Youngstown State University is mourning the loss of the only YSU graduate to ever reach space. Doctor Ronald Parise, a Warren native and 1973 YSU Grad, passed away yesterday after a long battle with cancer. Parise was an astronaut, and flew in two missions to space, the first is 1990 on the space shuttle Columbia, and again in 1995 on Endeavor. Parise was also known for being one of the first astronomers to fly a telescope into space.

"BUT EVEN BEFORE THAT AS A YOUNG MAN. HE HAD AN AMATEUR RADIO LICENSE AT 11. HE WAS IN OUR ASTRONOMY CLUB AS A HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT. AND WHEN HE BECAME A COLLEGE STUDENT HERE HE WAS VERY ACTIVE IN THE PROGRAM. MANY YEARS LATER HE WAS DESIGNING TELESCOPES INSTEAD OF JUST USING TELESCOPES. AND BECAME ONE OF THE FIRST ASTRONOMERS TO FLY A TELESCOPE IN SPACE."--Richard Pirko

Parise's family has set up a scholarship fund at Youngstown State in his honor.