Celebration of Life for Lorna Onizuka

Lorna was born on July 20, 1949 in Pahala, Hawaii to parents Herbert Susumu Yoshida and Anna Shizuko Yamamoto-Yoshida.  She married Ellison Onizuka on June 7, 1969 at the Tri-State Buddhist Church in Denver, CO.  Colonel Onizuka died on board the Space Shuttle Challenger (STS 51L) in 1986.  They had two beloved daughters, Janelle Mitsue Onizuka-Gillilan, and Darien Lei Shizue Onizuka-Morgan, with eight grandchildren: Hunter, Nicholas, Mason, Katelynn, Ellie, Chase, and Paige. Her grandchild, Payton, passed away just before birth.  Lorna’s parents, and her older brother Terrence “Yosh” Yoshida preceded her in death.

Lorna attended the University of Northern Colorado and studied Elementary and Special Education.  It was there she met El. Upon El’s graduation he accepted a commission with the United States Air Force.  They moved to Houston in June 1978 after El was selected as a member of the first class of Astronauts NASA selected to fly on the Space Shuttle.  Lorna completed her Bachelor of Science degree in Clinical Psychology from the University of Houston, and completed coursework towards her Master’s degree in Public Administration and Human Resource Management.

Lorna worked as a substitute teacher, before accepting jobs with Barrios Technology and GB Technology.  She then worked for the National Space Development Agency of Japan (later JAXA—the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) where she opened and ran the JAXA International Partner Office in Houston, TX.  In addition to forming lasting friendships over the years with the JAXA astronauts, she worked on key agreements to help create a charter for the Multi-lateral Crew Operations Panel, which would be responsible for determining the criteria for international astronauts to fly to the International Space Station, among other things.  She retired in 2017.

To help honor the Challenger crew’s commitment to education after the Challenger accident, Lorna was a founding Director for the Space Science Education Foundation (Challenger Center), which was created to keep their educational mission alive.  Since it’s creation, Challenger Centers across the country have engaged over six million students in STEM inspired hands-on learning opportunities.  Lorna was active in the creation of this legacy by helping with the fundraising efforts, and sponsoring public and commemorative events over the years. 

Additionally, she dedicated herself to other philanthropic endeavors to honor her husband’s memory.  She served as a Board Member for Hawaii Onizuka Memorial Foundation, and as a Board Member for the Ellison Onizuka Student Space Science Foundation in Torrance, CA.  These groups still host events honoring El’s legacy such as the Onizuka Science Week in Hawaii, and the Onizuka Science Day in California.  Additionally, Lorna worked tirelessly to support numerous scholarships created in El’s memory that continue to support students pursuing STEM careers.

More than anything, Lorna loved and protected her family.  Her two daughters meant the world to her, and she was so proud of them.  She loved attending her grandkids’ sporting events, picking them up after school and taking them for snacks, holding sleepovers, or watching them swim in her pool.  There is nothing she wouldn’t have done for them. 

Lorna is survived by her loving daughters Janelle and Darien, her two sons-in-law Matt and Keith, and her seven grandchildren: Hunter, Nicholas, Ellie, Chase, Mason, Katelynn and Paige.  Lorna also leaves behind many ohana—family and friends who will miss her stories, quick wit, and the endless ability to laugh with her dearly.

A celebration of life will be held on:

September 9^th, 2024

Time: 12 Noon

Lone Star Flight Museum

11551 Aerospace Avenue

Houston, Texas 77034

Directions:https://www.google.com/maps/dir//11551+Aerospace+Ave,+Houston,+TX+77034/@29.6041778,-95.2570904,12z/data=!4m8!4m7!1m0!1m5!1m1!1s0x863f9cf79f5f96bf:0xdce94ff3e475328b!2m2!1d-95.174689!2d29.6042033?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI0MDgyMS4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D

Lorna will then be taken home to Hawaii, and laid to rest at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu, Hawaii, with her husband El.