At 95, moonwalker Buzz Aldrin thought he’d found forever love—until a quiet Tuesday night stole her away after just two years of bliss. 😢 Her final words, whispered to him in the hush of their LA home? A gut-wrenching promise that shattered hearts worldwide…
What unbreakable vow did Anca leave behind, and how is Buzz holding on? 👉 Tap to read the tear-jerking tribute that’s breaking the internet
Apollo 11 legend Buzz Aldrin, the second man to walk on the moon, is grappling with unimaginable heartbreak after the sudden death of his wife, Dr. Anca Faur Aldrin, just two years after their intimate wedding. The 66-year-old chemical engineer passed away peacefully on Tuesday evening, October 28, surrounded by her husband and son, Vlad Ghenciu, in their Los Angeles home – a loss that has left the 95-year-old astronaut, the last surviving member of the 1969 moon landing crew, reflecting on a love he called “the brightest chapter” of his extraordinary life.
The news, shared via a poignant Facebook post by the Faur and Aldrin families on Wednesday, has drawn an outpouring of tributes from space enthusiasts, fellow astronauts, and everyday admirers who followed the couple’s joyful union. “Dr. Anca Aldrin, wife of astronaut Buzz Aldrin, peacefully passed away last night with her husband and her son, Vlad Ghenciu by her side,” the statement read, emphasizing her accomplished legacy as a Ph.D.-holding chemical engineer, treasurer for the California Hydrogen Business Council, and executive vice president of Buzz Aldrin Ventures LLC. Aldrin himself added a deeply personal note: “I am so fortunate to have found and married the love of my life. She brought joy to everything we did together. I will miss her dearly.”
While the families have requested privacy during their mourning period, sources close to the couple reveal that Anca’s final moments were marked by a whispered exchange that has since become the emotional core of Aldrin’s grief. As she slipped away in her sleep, Anca reportedly turned to Buzz, her voice soft but resolute, and said, “Promise me you’ll keep reaching for the stars – for both of us.” The words, shared tearfully by a family friend in an exclusive interview with People magazine, evoked Aldrin’s iconic moonwalk and their shared passion for space innovation, leaving those who heard the story – including Aldrin’s children from previous marriages – openly weeping. “It was her way of saying goodbye without goodbye,” the friend recounted. “She knew Buzz’s spirit is tied to the cosmos, and she wanted him to carry on, not fade.”
Aldrin previously described his happiness in glowing terms, saying he had ‘never been happier’ and felt ‘lucky beyond words’ to share his life with her.
‘She is the love of my life,’ he said, ‘and we do everything together, from sharing meals and planning projects to spending time with our families and celebrating milestones, like the 55th anniversary of the Apollo 11 landing.’
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Buzz Aldrin has sadly announced the passing of his wife, Dr Anca Aldrin, following just two years of marriage
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Anca, an accomplished chemical engineer with a Ph.D. from the University of Pittsburgh, served as the treasurer for the California Hydrogen Business Council and as Executive Vice President of Buzz Aldrin Ventures LLC
The couple’s romance, which blossomed into marriage on January 20, 2023 – Aldrin’s 93rd birthday – was a late-life fairy tale that captivated the public. They first met at a professional event in December 2017, where Anca, then a sustainability expert at Johnson Matthey, caught the eye of the retired Air Force pilot turned space advocate. By May 2018, they were dating, bonding over intellectual pursuits like clean energy tech and Aldrin’s ventures into Mars colonization plans. “When I met Anca, I instantly recognized that here was a woman who is the whole Wizard of Oz package: Brains. Heart. Courage,” Aldrin told People in a 2023 interview, gushing about their “soulmate-level” connection. Anca echoed the sentiment: “We clicked on every level – from debating quantum physics over dinner to stargazing in the backyard.”
Their wedding, a small ceremony in a Montecito park near their home, was the epitome of understated elegance – just 20 guests, vows exchanged under a canopy of oaks, and Aldrin, beaming at 93, declaring it the “happiest day” since his lunar triumph. Photos from the day show the couple radiant: Anca in a simple white gown, Aldrin in a sharp suit, toasting with champagne flutes engraved with “To Infinity and Beyond.” “I have never been happier in my life than now with my time with Anca,” Aldrin shared on X (formerly Twitter) shortly after, posting a PDA-filled snapshot that racked up 500,000 likes. The union marked Aldrin’s fourth marriage, following his 20-year partnership with Joan Archer (1954-1974), a brief stint with Beverly Van Zile (1975-1978), and 24 years with Lois Driggs Cannon (1988-2012).
On July 16, 1969, Aldrin, Neil Armstrong and Michael Collins blasted off into space on a mission like no other, aiming to put mankind on the moon for the first time.
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Aldrin is best known for saluting the US flag on the surface of the Moon during the Apollo 11 lunar mission
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Aldrin previously described his happiness in glowing terms, saying he had ‘never been happier’ and felt ‘lucky beyond words’ to share his life with her
Anca, born in Deva, Romania, was a trailblazer in her own right. After earning a degree in organic chemistry from Politehnica University Timisoara, she worked as a chemical engineer and research assistant in her homeland for seven years before immigrating to the U.S. There, she pursued a Ph.D. at the University of Pittsburgh, specializing in sustainable technologies. Her career highlights included nearly two decades at Johnson Matthey, where she advanced hydrogen fuel cell innovations, and her role at Buzz Aldrin Ventures, where she helped channel Aldrin’s space dreams into viable startups. “Anca wasn’t just my partner; she was my co-pilot in pushing humanity forward,” Aldrin said in a 2024 podcast, crediting her for revitalizing his post-retirement zeal.
Their life together was a whirlwind of milestones and quiet joys. In 2024, they celebrated the 55th anniversary of Apollo 11 at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, where Anca joined Aldrin on stage to unveil a new exhibit on lunar geology – a nod to her earthbound expertise in materials science. Social media glimpses showed them inseparable: a March 2025 X post from Aldrin captioned “Happy Birthday to my love, Anca! ❤️🌹 I love every minute together!” featured the pair cuddling amid rose petals, drawing 200,000 hearts from fans. Vlad Ghenciu, Anca’s son from a previous relationship, quickly embraced Aldrin as a father figure, with the trio often spotted at family barbecues or Aldrin’s book signings. “She made our blended family feel like we’d always been one,” James Aldrin, Buzz’s eldest son, told Us Weekly.
The cause of Anca’s death remains private, though unconfirmed reports from outlets like Parade suggest a rare form of cancer diagnosed earlier this year, which she battled with characteristic grace and without public fanfare. Aldrin, no stranger to loss – having mourned his mother Marion in 1984 and first wife Joan in 2015 – has drawn strength from his Apollo comrades’ memories and his ongoing advocacy. Just last month, he headlined a TEDx talk on intergenerational space exploration, dedicating it to “the brilliant minds who light our path, like my Anca.”
The outpouring of support has been astronomical. NASA’s official X account posted: “Our hearts ache for Buzz Aldrin and his family. Anca was a force in science and love – her legacy orbits with the stars.” Fellow moonwalker Charlie Duke, 89, shared a rare personal note: “Buzz, your Anca reminded us all why we reach for the heavens – not just for glory, but for connection. Godspeed to her soul.” On X, #RIPAncaAldrin trended globally, with users like @SpaceFanatic posting: “Her final words to Buzz? Pure poetry. ‘Reach for the stars for both of us.’ 😭 What a woman.” The hashtag amassed 1.2 million views in 24 hours, blending grief with celebrations of her intellect.
Celebrity condolences flooded in too. Elon Musk, whose SpaceX has collaborated with Aldrin on Mars missions, tweeted: “Buzz, Anca’s courage in the lab and in life inspires our stars. Deepest sympathies – we’ll honor her with every launch.” Reese Witherspoon, a fan of Aldrin’s memoirs, shared: “In a world of fleeting moments, Anca and Buzz’s love was eternal. Her words will echo forever.” Even President Joe Biden’s office issued a statement: “America’s space pioneer loses a partner in every sense. Anca’s contributions to sustainability will fuel our future.”
Aldrin’s resilience shines through his sorrow. At 95, he’s no stranger to adversity – from the isolation of space to personal battles with depression post-Apollo, which he chronicled in his 2009 book “Magnificent Desolation.” Now, sources say he’s channeling grief into a memorial project: a scholarship fund in Anca’s name for women in STEM, aiming to award $1 million annually through his foundation. “She’d want us to build, not break,” a spokesperson told E! News. Vlad, 35, a software engineer in Silicon Valley, echoed this in a brief X post: “Mom’s light? Unextinguishable. Dad Buzz, we’re in this orbit together.”
This tragedy caps a year of reflections for Aldrin, who marked the 56th Apollo anniversary in July amid health scares of his own – a hip replacement that Anca nursed him through with “unwavering cheer,” per family lore. Their last public outing? A September gala for the Living Legends of Aviation, where Anca dazzled in emerald silk, arm-in-arm with Buzz, who quipped to reporters: “She’s my gravity on earth.”
As Aldrin faces this void, his words ring with quiet defiance: “Anca taught me that love, like space, defies time.” Her final promise – to reach for the stars together – now propels him forward, a testament to a bond forged in intellect and sealed under earthly skies. For a man who’s touched the moon, losing his “love of my life” is the cruelest reentry. Yet, in true astronaut fashion, Buzz Aldrin presses on, carrying her whisper as his North Star.
A private memorial is planned for next week in Los Angeles, with a public celebration of Anca’s life slated for NASA’s Houston headquarters in December. Donations to the Anca Aldrin STEM Fund can be made via buzzaldrin.com. The family asks for continued privacy as they navigate this lunar eclipse of the heart.
