Rona Ramon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Rona Ramon
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Rona Ramon in 2016
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| Born |
Rona Bar-Siman-Tov
16 April 1964 Kiryat Ono, Israel
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| Died | 17 December 2018 (aged 54) |
| Nationality | Israeli |
| Occupation | Activist |
| Known for | Widow of Ilan Ramon, public activist, STEM and youth influencer |
| Spouse(s) |
Ilan Ramon
(m. 1986; died 2003) |
| Children | 4 |
Rona Ramon (Hebrew: רונה רמון; April 16, 1964 – December 17, 2018) was an important person in Israel. She worked to help young people learn about science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). Rona was the wife of Ilan Ramon, who was Israel's first astronaut. He passed away in the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster in 2003. She was also the mother of Assaf Ramon, a fighter pilot who died in an accident in 2009.
After losing her husband and son, Rona Ramon started the Ramon Foundation. This foundation helps talented Israeli children follow their dreams.
Early Life and Family
Rona Bar-Siman-Tov was born in Kiryat Ono, Israel, on April 16, 1964. Her parents, Yaacov and Gila, moved to Israel from Turkey when they were young. As a child, Rona volunteered with the Scouts. She later served in the army as a paramedic.
Rona met Ilan Ramon when she was 22 years old. They got married in 1986 and had four children together.
In 1997, Ilan Ramon was chosen to be the first Israeli astronaut. In 1998, the family moved to Houston, USA. This was so Ilan could train for his space mission, STS-107.
Helping Others
Rona Ramon was a special kind of therapist. She helped people deal with difficult times in their lives. She also gave talks and workshops on how to cope with big challenges. She studied physical therapy and holistic therapy at universities.
After the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster, Rona started the Ramon Foundation. This foundation helps young people across Israel. It offers scholarships and chances for them to learn and become leaders. One of the foundation's cool programs is the Ramon Spacelab. It lets student teams create experiments to send to the International Space Station.
Rona also helped create Israel's yearly Space Week. This event happens in the last week of January. It has many activities to encourage kids to learn about STEM. Astronauts and space agency leaders come to these events. They also attend the yearly International Ilan Ramon Conference.
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In 2016, Rona was honored at Israel's Independence Day celebration. She lit a torch at the special ceremony on Mount Herzl. In June 2018, she received an award from the Technion university. This was to thank her for all her hard work and help for Israeli society.
Rona Ramon passed away at age 54. She had been battling pancreatic cancer for a long time.
Images for kids
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The tombstone of Rona Ramon next to the graves of Ilan and Assaf Ramon. The inscription on the back says: "Mom is also here."
