Tribune Chronicle / R. Michael Semple Cathryn Parise, center, mother of astronaut and Warren native Ronald A. Parise, views the Ohio Historical Marker dedicated to her son that was unveiled Wednesday at the site of the Neil Armstrong First Flight Lunar Module in Warren. Ronald Parise would have been 66 on Wednesday. He died in 2008 at the age of 56. With Cathryn is Fred Pisanelli, left, a childhood friend of Ronald Parise, and James Valesky, founder of the Warren Heritage Center, which raised money for the marker.

WARREN — Cathryn Parise said she never expected that her son, Ronald Parise, would be honored with an Ohio Historical Marker noting his accomplishments as an astronaut.

A special unveiling was held Wednesday for the marker at the Neil Armstrong First Flight Lunar Module. Parise achieved acclaim as both an astronaut and scientist.

”We are all honored that this was done. I never expected all this,” Parise said.

The marker was unveiled on what would have been Ronald Parise’s 66th birthday. He died at age 56 in 2008.

Parise, a two-time space shuttle astronaut, was on shuttle Columbia in 1990 and shuttle Endeavour in 1995.

James Valesky, president / founder of the Warren Heritage Center, said Parise is Warren’s ”hometown hero.”

”Ron did something that every young boy dreamed of doing and that was becoming an astronaut and going into space,” Valesky said.

He said the Neil Armstrong First Flight Lunar Module memorial was selected as the site to honor Parise.

”This is the proper place to honor Ron. He is a true hometown hero. Very few men have accomplished what Ron has,” Valesky said.

The marker is adjacent to the Neil Armstrong memorial off U.S. Route 422, near Parise’s childhood home.

When Parise graduated from Warren Western Reserve High School in 1969, Armstrong took his first step on the moon.

Fred Pisanelli, a childhood friend and fellow Western Reserve graduate with Parise, said ”he is one of Warren’s most accomplished people.”

He said Parise flew on two missions and was involved with the ultraviolet and X-ray telescopes that he helped invent, design and build.

”Ron was the kid from the west side who made us all proud to be from Warren. He got a pilot license before he graduated from high school. This is an honor that is well deserved,” Pisanelli said.

He said the two played in the neighborhoods not too far from where the marker was placed.

Dr. Warren Young, a former professor of physics and astronomy at Youngstown State University, said Parise, after graduating from YSU in 1973, became the campus’ planetarium technician and learned to operate telescopes, which helped prepare him for his career.

In 1973, Young went with Parise and Armstrong to Africa to see a total eclipse of the sun.

”Ron was the right person in the right place at the right time,” he said.

Parise earned a Bachelor of Science degree in physics, with minors in math, astronomy and geology. He obtained Master of Science and Ph.D. degrees in astronomy at the University of Florida in 1977 and 1979.

Nicholas DiJacimo, pastor of Living Word Sanctuary, said Parise’s dedication and discipline allowed him to spend more than 600 hours in space and travel 10.5 million miles around the earth.

Warren city officials presented several proclamations to the Parise family and the Warren Heritage Center.

”When he went into space, he was able to look back at Ohio, Warren and Warren Western Reserve where he started,” said Warren councilwoman Helen Rucker.

Councilman Larry Larson said the tribute to Parise ”was long overdue.”

Funding for the historical marker was raised through donations solicited by the Warren Heritage Center.

bcoupland@tribtoday.com