Daniel Todd Pastor

After battling the effects of cancer therapy for over 5 years, Daniel Pastor passed away from malignant melanoma on Thursday, January 03, 2019. He was 64. Daniel overcame an early childhood of oppressive poverty. Finances normalized in his youth, and he enjoyed a typical family environment growing up. After high school, he was awarded an academic scholarship to the University of California. Upon graduation in 1980, he immediately began work with Rockwell International at the Space Shuttle Acceptance Test Facility in Palmdale, CA. He was responsible for assembly and test of the Environmental Controls and Life-Support Subsystems on several Orbiter space vehicles. A few years later, Dan joined the Lockheed team at Vandenberg Air Force Base in Lompoc, CA, preparing and validating Space Launch Complex 6 for Air Force Space Shuttle operations from the west coast. Dan transferred to Kennedy Space Center in Florida, where he became certified as an Orbiter Test Conductor, qualified to launch and perform landing recovery operations of the shuttle and orbiter. A few years later, Dan was invited to join the Space Station Freedom design group in Sunnyvale, CA. Dan was responsible for insuring all requirements were met during design of the Thermal Radiator Rotary Joint used on the station. By 1993, Dan and his wife Mary purchased Mary’s grandparents home in Belding, Michigan. They both quit their jobs, packed a truck and drove to Michigan where they raised their son, Thomas, and daughter, Katherine, in Michigan bliss. Dan started a technical services business which he and Mary ran for 17 years. Tiring of the 80-hour weeks, Dan joined one of his largest clients, Dematic Corp, where he spent his last 7 years working with great people. Daniel had numerous hobbies, but mostly just enjoyed being with his family. And now he has gone to rest. Daniel is survived by his wife, Mary; daughter Katherine (Joshua) Kelley; son Thomas Pastor; daughter Guilia Slatten; mother Ann Slatten-Jones; father Daniel (Toni) Pastor; brothers Danny (Tena) Pastor, David (Ali) Pastor, Mark (Paula) Slatten, Scott Slatten; sister Leslie (Matthe Van El) Slatten; and aunt Roberta “Bobbie” Pastor. Memorial service will be held 12:30 p.m. Tuesday, January 8, at St. Patrick Catholic Church, 4351 Parnell Ave. NE, Ada, MI 49301. The family will greet friends and relatives one hour prior to the service at the church. Rev. Julian Reginato presiding. Memorial contributions may be made to the Melanoma Research Foundation online at www.melanoma.org; or Crash’s Landing & Big Sid’s Sanctuary Cat Rescue and Placement Centers, 1545 Diamond Ave. NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49505.