Bertram Raoul Bulkin was born on July 20, 1929 in Brooklyn, N.Y. As a boy growing up in Brooklyn and in Red Bank, New Jersey, he watched Buck Rogers serials, dreamed of space travel, and had a knack for "fixing" items around the house, including some that weren't broken. Bert graduated from John Marshall High School in Los Angeles at age 16. He earned his degree in aeronautical engineering from the University of California, Los Angeles.
He joined Lockheed as a detail draftsman. He was quickly promoted to design engineer and worked on varied secret launch missions, including the programs which led to the discovery of Soviet missiles in Cuba. After a stint working as an executive at ITT, he returned to Lockheed, eventually being named project engineer for the Hubble.
Bert Bulkin led the effort to launch a space telescope allowing scientists to see the universe with striking new depth and clarity. Bringing the Hubble to launch required years of design work, gallons of sweat and limitless patience. Colleagues say Mr. Bulkin never wavered and never lost his cool. He inspired people by leading the charge, setting the example, people loved working for him. Using the Hubble, stargazers have seen the heavens with jaw-dropping clarity. Getting a telescope above the atmosphere, on a stable platform, was a huge achievement.
Throughout his career, Mr. Bulkin had a child-like sense of wonder about space, and he wanted to share it. As the Hubble project progressed, he insisted that the final assembly center include large viewing windows so the public could see the amazing instrument as it was completed. The Hubble was launched on April 24, 1991.
Mr. Bulkin retired from Lockheed in 1992 as Director of Scientific Space Programs and moved to Woodbridge. He served on the National Academy of Science's blue-ribbon panel exploring options for extending the life of the Hubble, which remains in space and continues to relay data.
He was a popular guest speaker at Rotary Clubs and other civic groups and a volunteer for the Lodi Unified School District. In 2008, he was inducted into the Lodi Hall of Fame sponsored by the Lodi Boys and Girls Club. He described the glory of learning: "The more you learn, the better off you are. The more research you do, the more knowledge you gain."
His daughter, Stephanie, said people were naturally attracted to her father's warmth and intellect. He loved playing the piano, singing at family gatherings and had a staggering range of knowledge on science, current affairs and politics and a passion for golf.
Bert Bulkin passed away at the age of 82 on March 10, 2012 and is survived by his widow, Maggie Talbot Bulkin, his five sons, his daughter, nine grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.