Judith Love Cohen: The Aerospace Engineer Who Helped Save Apollo 13 and Raised a Hollywood Star

When you think of Jack Black, the hilarious, high-energy star of School of Rock and Jumanji likely comes to mind. But behind every great entertainer is often an even more remarkable parent, and in Jack Black’s case, his mother, Judith Love Cohen, was a true American hero. While her son was busy making the world laugh, Judith was busy making history, working as a pioneering aerospace engineer who played a pivotal role in one of NASA’s most dramatic missions. She wasn’t just Jack Black’s mom; she was a brilliant mind whose calculations helped bring the astronauts of Apollo 13 safely back to Earth.

Judith Love Cohen: Quick Facts

An Unlikely Path: From Ballet to Binary

Judith Love Cohen was born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1933. From a young age, she possessed a sharp, analytical mind and a passion for mathematics. By the fifth grade, her classmates were so impressed by her skills that they would pay her to do their math homework . This early success hinted at a future in STEM, but Judith’s path was far from conventional. She exhibited a dual passion for the arts and sciences; she pursued math and engineering while also dancing ballet with the prestigious Metropolitan Opera Ballet company in New York City . It was a blend of grace and grit that would define her entire life.

Judith’s journey into engineering was a testament to her perseverance. She received a scholarship to Brooklyn College to major in math, but quickly realized her true calling was in engineering . This was a time when women were vastly underrepresented in the field, a challenge she would face repeatedly. After moving to California, she worked as a junior engineer for North American Aviation during the day while attending the University of Southern California at night to earn her engineering degrees . In a telling sign of the times, she earned both her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in electrical engineering from USC without ever meeting another female engineering student . This didn’t deter her; it only solidified her resolve to break barriers. She later remarked, “I had already figured out that I was going to do things that no [other girls] ever did” .

A Critical Role in Space History

Judith’s professional career was as impressive as it was impactful. After graduating, she went to work for Space Technology Laboratories, which later became TRW (now Northrop Grumman), and remained with the company until her retirement in 1990 . She worked on a number of high-stakes projects, including the guidance computer for the Minuteman missile and the ground station for the Hubble Space Telescope .

However, her most significant contribution—and the one she was most proud of—was her work on the Apollo Space Program . Judith was an electrical engineer on the team that developed the Abort-Guidance System (AGS) for the Apollo Lunar Module. The AGS was a backup navigation and guidance system designed to get astronauts off the lunar surface and back to the Command Module if the primary systems failed . It was a contingency system, but one that proved to be absolutely crucial when disaster struck.

In 1970, an oxygen tank explosion crippled the Apollo 13 spacecraft, forcing the astronauts to abandon their mission to land on the Moon and use the Lunar Module as a “lifeboat” to get home . The mission was in peril, and power and water were critically limited. The primary guidance system used too much water for cooling, so mission control turned to the backup: the Abort-Guidance System that Judith Love Cohen had helped create . It was the AGS that guided the module on its critical trajectory, including the crucial engine burns needed to shorten the trip home, playing a pivotal role in the safe return of the astronauts . She was present when the grateful Apollo 13 crew visited the TRW facility to thank the team that had been instrumental in their survival . This remarkable feat is a massive part of her legacy, making her a genuine hero of the space age.

“Oh, Yes, the Baby Was Born, Too”

The story of Judith Love Cohen’s dedication is perhaps best encapsulated by the legend of her son’s birth. In August 1969, just a month after the Apollo 11 moon landing, Judith was heavily pregnant with her fourth child. Ever the dedicated engineer, she went into her office on the day she went into labor . While working on a complex problem, her water broke. As she was leaving for the hospital, she grabbed a computer printout of the issue, refusing to stop working . Later that day, from the hospital, she called her boss to inform him that she had solved the engineering problem. He congratulated her on the birth of her baby boy, Thomas Jacob Black—better known to the world as Jack Black . Her son Neil recalled her simply saying, “Oh, yes, the baby was born, too” . This incredible anecdote perfectly illustrates her unwavering commitment to her work, even in the most extraordinary circumstances.

A Life of Purpose and Creativity

Judith retired from engineering in 1990, but her career of building and creating was far from over. She channeled her passion for education and her experience as a woman in a male-dominated field into a new venture: children’s publishing. She founded Cascade Pass, a publishing company, with her third husband, David Katz . Through this, she created the You Can Be a Woman… book series, designed to encourage young girls to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) . Titles included You Can Be a Woman Engineer, You Can Be a Woman Animator, and more, selling over 100,000 copies . She also published a book called The Women of Apollo, which told the stories of four women, including herself, who helped put the first man on the moon . This second act was her way of ensuring that the path she had carved for herself would be easier for the next generation of young women.

A Legacy of Resilience and Inspiration

Judith Love Cohen passed away in 2016 at the age of 82 . While her net worth was a modest estimated $1 million, a fraction of her famous son’s, her true wealth was the immense legacy she left behind . Her work helped save lives in the perilous vacuum of space, and her books have inspired countless young minds to explore the wonders of science. Her son, Jack Black, has spoken with deep pride and admiration for his “bad-ass aerospace engineer” mother, often sharing stories of her brilliance . He has also reflected on the sadness of his parents’ divorce when he was ten and the profound loss of his brother Howard, which he described as being hardest on his mother .

Judith Love Cohen’s life is a powerful lesson in following one’s passions, shattering glass ceilings, and never stopping your pursuit of knowledge. She was a dancer, an engineer, an author, and a mother. Her story reminds us that you don’t have to be a movie star to be a hero. Sometimes, the most important heroes are the ones quietly solving the impossible problems in a lab, ensuring that others make it home safely. As Jack Black’s mom continues to be celebrated for her brilliant mind and indomitable spirit, her story stands as a testament to how resilience, intellect, and a deep sense of purpose can shape a truly meaningful legacy.

Read this to: The Life and Legacy of Rachel Tussey: A Story of Connection, Transformation, and Unimaginable Loss

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Judith Love Cohen?

Judith Love Cohen was an American aerospace engineer who worked on the Apollo space program, the Hubble Space Telescope, and the Minuteman missile system. She is also known as the mother of actor and musician Jack Black .

What did Judith Love Cohen do for NASA?

She was an electrical engineer who contributed to several key projects, most notably the Abort-Guidance System (AGS) in the Apollo Lunar Module. Her work on this system was critical for the safe return of the Apollo 13 astronauts . She also worked on the ground station for the Hubble Space Telescope and the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite .

How did Judith Love Cohen help save Apollo 13?

Judith Love Cohen helped develop the Abort-Guidance System (AGS). After the Apollo 13 spacecraft was crippled by an explosion, the astronauts had to use the Lunar Module as a lifeboat. The AGS, as a backup guidance system, was used for the critical trajectory maneuvers that brought the astronauts safely home, as the primary system was using too much power and water .

What is the story about Judith Love Cohen and Jack Black’s birth?

The story goes that on the day Judith went into labor, she was at work solving a complex engineering problem. When she left for the hospital, she took a computer printout of the problem with her. Later that day, after giving birth to Jack Black, she called her boss to tell him she had solved the issue, adding, “Oh, yes, the baby was born, too” .

What is Jack Black’s mother’s name?

Jack Black’s mother is Judith Love Cohen. She is also known as Judith Love Black during her marriage to his father, Thomas “Tom” Black .

What is Judith Love Cohen’s net worth?

While exact figures are not publicly available, her net worth at the time of her passing was estimated to be around $1 million, generated from her long career as a successful engineer and her later work as a children’s author and publisher .

What books did Judith Love Cohen write?

After retiring from engineering, she wrote and published a series of children’s books through her company, Cascade Pass. The most well-known series is You Can Be a Woman…, which included titles like You Can Be a Woman Engineer, designed to inspire girls to enter STEM fields . She also co-published The Women of Apollo .