Buzz Aldrin remains one of history’s most celebrated figures, forever remembered as the second person to walk on the moon during the historic Apollo 11 mission in 1969. While his achievements in space exploration are universally recognized, his personal life included four marriages, with Lois Driggs Cannon serving as his third wife for nearly a quarter-century. Unlike some of Aldrin’s other relationships, information about Cannon is unusually well-documented, thanks to credible news coverage and a detailed obituary published after her death in 2018. This article explores her remarkable life story, from her Arizona upbringing through her marriage to one of America’s most iconic astronauts.
Lois Driggs Cannon’s story extends far beyond simply being connected to a famous husband, encompassing her own educational achievements, an earlier marriage and family, and her later role in supporting Aldrin through significant personal struggles. This piece draws on verified sources, including contemporary news reports and her published obituary, to present an accurate, respectful account of her life. Rather than reducing her to a footnote in Aldrin’s biography, we’ll explore her complete story, including her own accomplishments and the genuine partnership she built with one of history’s most recognizable space explorers.
Quick Bio Lois Driggs Cannon
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Lois Driggs Cannon Aldrin |
| Known For | Third wife of astronaut Buzz Aldrin |
| Date of Birth | November 2, 1929 |
| Date of Death | July 17, 2018 (age 88) |
| Birthplace | Phoenix, Arizona |
| Nationality | American |
| Parents | Douglas H. Driggs and Effie Driggs |
| Family Background | Mormon pioneer family; father co-founded Western Savings & Loan |
| Education | BA in Education, Stanford University (Class of 1951); teaching certificate from UCLA |
| First Marriage | Bryant W. Cannon (married 1955); three children together |
| Second Marriage | Buzz Aldrin (met in 1985; married February 14, 1988) |
| Marriage to Aldrin Duration | 1988–2012 (23–24 years) |
| Business Involvement | Co-built a business with Aldrin promoting his space advocacy work |
| Divorce | Finalized in 2012, citing “irreconcilable differences” |
| Later Life | Lived in Salt Lake City until her death in 2018 |
| Reliability of Available Information | High — consistent across credible sources |
Who Is Lois Driggs Cannon
Lois Driggs Cannon is best known as the third wife of Buzz Aldrin, the legendary astronaut who became the second person to walk on the moon during the Apollo 11 mission. Unlike many celebrity spouses whose biographies remain murky or contradictory, Cannon’s life is documented through credible news sources and a detailed, published obituary that offers genuine insight into her character and accomplishments. Born in 1929, she lived a full life encompassing education, an earlier marriage and family, and eventually a significant partnership with Aldrin that lasted nearly a quarter-century before ending in divorce.
Beyond her connection to Aldrin, Cannon built an accomplished life defined by academic achievement, family devotion, and personal resilience. Described in her obituary with words like “energy,” “exuberance,” and “enthusiasm,” she was clearly a vibrant, engaged individual long before meeting the famous astronaut. Her story offers a refreshing contrast to many celebrity-adjacent biographies that rely on speculation, instead providing genuine documented detail about a woman who lived an eventful, meaningful life both independently and alongside one of America’s most celebrated space explorers…Read more Julian Murray Stern
Early Life and Education of Lois Driggs Cannon
Lois Driggs Cannon was born on November 2, 1929, in Phoenix, Arizona, to Douglas H. Driggs and Effie Driggs, arriving just as the Great Depression began reshaping American life. Her family came from Mormon pioneer heritage, with her father helping establish Western Savings & Loan alongside his father and brothers shortly before the stock market crash. Despite this challenging economic backdrop, the family’s business survived and eventually thrived as Arizona experienced significant growth throughout subsequent decades, providing Lois with a stable, prosperous upbringing within a close-knit religious community during her formative childhood years.
Growing up in Phoenix, young Lois developed into what her obituary described as a “petite firecracker,” earning the nickname “Mighty Mouse” at North Phoenix High School. She displayed considerable talent and energy, playing boogie-woogie piano, participating in theatrical productions, and dancing to live swing music. Her academic journey took her first to the University of Utah before transferring to Stanford University, where she graduated with a degree in education in 1951, demonstrating both intellectual capability and determination during an era when women’s higher education remained less common than today.
Lois Driggs Cannon’s First Marriage to Bryant Cannon
Before her famous marriage to Buzz Aldrin, Lois experienced a full life that included spending nine months traveling through Europe following her Stanford graduation. She then earned her teaching certificate at UCLA, subsequently working as a teacher in Beverly Hills and Palo Alto, demonstrating commitment to education both personally and professionally. In 1955, she married Bryant W. Cannon in a Latter-day Saints temple ceremony in Mesa, Arizona, beginning a partnership that would last for decades and produce a family before eventually intersecting with her later, more publicly documented relationship with Aldrin.
Lois and Bryant spent their first decade of marriage in Europe, where he worked for major companies including IBM and ITT, while Lois gave birth to two daughters during this international chapter of their lives. The family eventually returned to Arizona, where their son was born, before ultimately settling in Emerald Bay, Laguna Beach, for the remainder of their 27-year marriage. This lengthy, stable first marriage demonstrates Lois’s capacity for genuine, lasting partnership long before her more publicly documented relationship with Aldrin began during the mid-1980s.
How Lois Driggs Cannon Met Buzz Aldrin
According to her obituary, Lois Driggs Cannon met Buzz Aldrin in 1985, beginning a new chapter in her life following the end of her first marriage. This meeting occurred after Aldrin had already achieved worldwide fame through his historic moon landing sixteen years earlier, though he had also experienced significant personal struggles, including previous divorces and documented battles with depression and alcoholism following his return from space. Their relationship developed during this complex period of Aldrin’s life, suggesting Lois entered the relationship with clear awareness of the challenges he’d faced since his historic achievement.
Their connection eventually led to marriage, which they celebrated on Valentine’s Day in 1988, adding romantic significance to their wedding date that several news sources specifically noted when covering their eventual divorce decades later. This timing suggests a relatively brief courtship before marriage, though specific details about their dating period beyond the meeting year aren’t extensively documented. What’s clear is that Lois brought genuine life experience and resilience to this new relationship, having already successfully navigated a long marriage, motherhood, and various life transitions before meeting Aldrin.
The Marriage of Lois Driggs Cannon and Buzz Aldrin
Lois Driggs Cannon and Buzz Aldrin married on February 14, 1988, beginning what would become his second-longest marriage, lasting approximately 23 to 24 years before their eventual divorce. According to her obituary, the early years of their marriage included “unexpected challenges,” though Lois reportedly never surrendered, instead choosing to empower her husband through difficult periods. This resilience proved significant, as Aldrin himself later credited her supportive influence with helping him overcome serious personal struggles that had plagued him since his historic Apollo 11 mission nearly two decades earlier.
Their marriage represented a partnership built on mutual support, with Lois helping Aldrin rebuild both personally and professionally during a period when his public profile remained complicated by past struggles. This union lasted significantly longer than either of Aldrin’s previous marriages, suggesting genuine compatibility and effective partnership despite whatever initial challenges emerged during their early years together. Their eventual 23-year marriage duration places Cannon among the more significant relationships in Aldrin’s complex personal history, second only to his first marriage to Joan Ann Archer.
Supporting Buzz Aldrin Through Personal Struggles
In his 2009 autobiography, “Magnificent Desolation,” Buzz Aldrin specifically credited Lois with helping him navigate serious struggles with alcoholism and depression, writing memorably that “every Superman needs his Lois.” This public acknowledgment demonstrates the genuine significance of her support during a challenging period in his life, extending beyond typical spousal encouragement into something Aldrin himself considered essential to his personal recovery and continued success following his historic space career and subsequent personal difficulties throughout the 1970s and into the following decade.
This documented support illustrates Lois’s genuine character and commitment to her marriage, going beyond superficial companionship into meaningful personal advocacy during difficult circumstances. Her willingness to help Aldrin confront serious personal challenges, rather than simply enjoying association with his fame, suggests authentic partnership built on genuine care rather than opportunistic celebrity connection. This aspect of their relationship, specifically documented through Aldrin’s own words, provides meaningful insight into the actual dynamics of their marriage beyond simple facts about dates and eventual divorce proceedings decades later.
Business Ventures Alongside Buzz Aldrin
Beyond providing emotional support, Lois Driggs Cannon and Buzz Aldrin built a business together focused on capitalizing on his achievements while promoting his continued vision for space exploration’s future. This professional partnership suggests Lois played an active role in managing and developing Aldrin’s post-NASA career, rather than remaining a passive spouse disconnected from his professional pursuits. Her daughter from her first marriage, Lisa Cannon, also became involved in managing Aldrin’s business affairs, indicating the partnership extended meaningfully into practical, professional collaboration alongside personal marriage.
This business collaboration demonstrates Lois’s genuine capability and involvement in supporting Aldrin’s continued public career following his NASA departure in 1971. Rather than simply existing as “the astronaut’s wife,” she actively contributed to building and managing enterprises related to his ongoing advocacy work and public speaking career. This professional dimension to their marriage suggests a genuinely collaborative partnership, extending beyond typical spousal support into active business management, reflecting Lois’s capability and determination that had already been evident throughout her earlier education and first marriage.
The Divorce of Lois Driggs Cannon and Buzz Aldrin
After 23 years of marriage, Buzz Aldrin filed for divorce from Lois Driggs Cannon in June 2011, citing “irreconcilable differences” as the legal reason for ending their union. According to TMZ and subsequent news coverage, the divorce was finalized in mid-2012, with Cannon reportedly receiving approximately half of Aldrin’s fortune as part of the settlement. This significant financial arrangement reflects both the marriage’s substantial duration and California’s community property laws, which typically result in equal asset division following divorce proceedings in long-term marriages within the state.
The divorce received notable media attention given Aldrin’s status as a genuine American icon, though coverage generally remained respectful rather than sensationalized compared to typical celebrity divorce coverage. News outlets consistently noted the marriage’s substantial 23-year duration, implicitly acknowledging the relationship’s significance within Aldrin’s personal history. Following this divorce, both parties moved forward with their respective lives, with Aldrin continuing his public advocacy work while Cannon eventually settled in Salt Lake City for her remaining years, living until her death in 2018.
Buzz Aldrin’s Life After Lois Driggs Cannon
Following his divorce from Lois Driggs Cannon in 2012, Buzz Aldrin continued his active public life, remaining involved in space advocacy and occasional media appearances that had characterized much of his post-NASA career. He eventually found new companionship, marrying Dr. Anca Faur in January 2023 on his 93rd birthday, describing their small private ceremony as joining “as excited as eloping teenagers.” This fourth marriage represented a new chapter for Aldrin, occurring over a decade after his divorce from Cannon and demonstrating his continued capacity for finding companionship even in his advanced years.
Aldrin’s post-Cannon life included continued recognition for his space exploration achievements, including various honors and his ongoing advocacy for commercial spaceflight development. His willingness to remarry at such an advanced age suggests continued optimism and openness to relationships despite his complicated marital history spanning six decades. This pattern of resilience and continued engagement with life, evident throughout his personal relationships, mirrors qualities that made him successful during his historic NASA career and subsequent public advocacy work promoting space exploration’s future possibilities.
Lois Driggs Cannon’s Final Years and Death
Following her divorce from Buzz Aldrin, Lois Driggs Cannon eventually settled in Salt Lake City, where she lived until her death on July 17, 2018, at the age of 88. Her passing came from natural causes, representing a peaceful conclusion to a genuinely eventful and accomplished life spanning nearly nine decades. Her published obituary provided detailed insight into her complete life story, from her Depression-era childhood through her education, first marriage and family, and eventual high-profile marriage to one of history’s most celebrated astronauts.
The comprehensive nature of her obituary, detailing everything from her piano playing and dancing as a young woman to her business partnership with Aldrin, suggests a life well-documented and genuinely celebrated by those who knew her personally. This thorough biographical account stands in contrast to many celebrity-adjacent figures whose lives remain poorly documented, providing readers with genuine insight into her complete character and accomplishments beyond simply her connection to Aldrin’s fame and historic achievements during America’s space race era.
Lois Driggs Cannon’s Legacy
Lois Driggs Cannon’s legacy encompasses far more than simply her marriage to Buzz Aldrin, though that relationship certainly represents a significant chapter within her complete life story. Her documented educational achievements, including degrees from Stanford and UCLA, demonstrate genuine intellectual accomplishment during an era when such achievements remained less common for women. Her first marriage’s 27-year duration and three children further illustrate her capacity for sustained, meaningful relationships extending well beyond her eventual, more publicly documented partnership with Aldrin during his later career years.
Within Aldrin’s broader biography, Cannon represents his second-longest marriage and a period during which she provided genuine support helping him overcome serious personal struggles. This documented contribution to his wellbeing during difficult times represents meaningful legacy beyond simple marital statistics or divorce settlements. Her life story, preserved through detailed obituary documentation, offers valuable insight into both her individual accomplishments and her genuine partnership with one of history’s most celebrated astronauts during a significant chapter of his complex personal journey…Explore more Georg Stanford Brown
Conclusion
Lois Driggs Cannon’s life story offers a genuinely well-documented and inspiring account of a woman who achieved significant personal accomplishments both independently and through her notable marriage to astronaut Buzz Aldrin. From her Depression-era Arizona childhood through her Stanford education, her 27-year first marriage, and her eventual 23-year partnership with one of history’s most celebrated space explorers, Cannon demonstrated consistent resilience, intelligence, and genuine capability throughout her 88 years. Her documented role in helping Aldrin overcome serious personal struggles adds meaningful depth to understanding their relationship beyond simple biographical facts.
Rather than remaining a footnote in Aldrin’s famous biography, Lois Driggs Cannon emerges as a fully realized individual with her own accomplishments, family, and genuine contributions to those around her throughout her lengthy, eventful life. Her published obituary preserves this complete story for future readers, offering rare, reliable insight into a woman connected to one of America’s greatest historic achievements while maintaining her own distinct identity and legacy. Her story serves as a meaningful reminder that even those connected to famous figures often possess rich, independently significant life stories worth genuine recognition and remembrance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Lois Driggs Cannon?
She was the third wife of astronaut Buzz Aldrin, married to him from 1988 to 2012.
When was Lois Driggs Cannon born?
She was born on November 2, 1929, in Phoenix, Arizona.
How did Lois Driggs Cannon meet Buzz Aldrin?
They met in 1985 and married on Valentine’s Day in 1988.
Did Lois Driggs Cannon have children?
Yes, she had three children from her first marriage to Bryant W. Cannon.
Why did Lois Driggs Cannon and Buzz Aldrin divorce?
Aldrin cited “irreconcilable differences” when filing for divorce in 2011.
When did Lois Driggs Cannon die?
She died on July 17, 2018, in Salt Lake City, at age 88.
What did Lois Driggs Cannon study in college?
She earned a BA in education from Stanford University in 1951.
Did Lois Driggs Cannon work with Buzz Aldrin professionally?
Yes, they built a business together promoting his space advocacy work.
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