ROCKLAND — Roy D. Fisher, 87, a longtime resident of East Hartland, Conn., and a key contributor to the manned U.S. spaceflights to the Moon, died Aug, 5 in Bangor.

A native of Springfield, Mass., he volunteered for the Navy during World War II and was selected for officer training at Columbia University Engineering School in New York City, graduating in 1948. After leaving the Navy as a lieutenant junior grade, he completed a master's degree in engineering at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, N.Y.

A licensed professional engineer, Mr. Fisher began his career with American Bosch but soon moved to Hamilton Standard in Windsor Locks, Conn. There, he eventually became director of design and development for the space suits and other life-support systems for the astronauts of NASA's Apollo program, including Neil Armstrong, first person to walk on the Moon.

He also worked on the development of maneuvering rockets used to reposition satellites while in orbit, and was a consultant to the Government of India on its communications-satellite program.

Mr. Fisher lived for nearly six decades in Hartland, serving the town in various capacities, including volunteer firefighter, constable, member of the Board of Finance and tax assessor. An avid gardener and landscaper, he maintained a large vegetable garden, fruit trees, a trout pond and berry groves. He was an accomplished pianist and, in retirement, became a stained-glass craftsman, building precise reproductions of complex Tiffany lampshades.

He was an enthusiastic fisherman and, for some 30 years, spent several weeks each summer pursuing salmon and trout on Alaska's Kenai Peninsula, where he owned a cabin and a share in a rustic fishing camp.

Mr. Fisher is survived by his wife of 61 years, Jean A. Fisher of Rockland; his daughter, Lynne (Gary) Henry, and granddaughter Sarah Henry, all of Rockland; and his son, Mark (Barbara) Fisher, and granddaughter Sophia Fisher, all of Columbus, Ohio.

A remembrance and celebration of Roy Fisher's life is being planned in East Hartland at a later date.

Arrangements are with Long Funeral Home & Cremation Service in Camden. Condolences may be shared with the Fisher family by visiting their book of memories online at Long Funeral Home.