In a heartfelt tribute, scientists from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) honored their late colleague, meteorologist Peter Dodge, by scattering his ashes in the eye of Hurricane Milton during a hurricane hunter aircraft mission. This act fulfilled one of Dodge’s greatest wishes.
On October 8, as Hurricane Milton churned 300 miles southwest of Florida, 20 of Dodge’s former coworkers released his ashes from the aircraft, marking a year and a half since his passing in March 2023 from a stroke at age 72. His long-standing commitment to NOAA spanned 44 years, earning him recognition from various international media outlets.
A Fitting Tribute Soars Above
During the poignant flight, crew members recited the poem “Peace, My Heart” by Rabindranath Tagore. Shirley Murillo, NOAA's Deputy Director of the Hurricane Research Division, praised Dodge’s passionate dedication to fieldwork and hurricane monitoring missions. “Scattering his ashes in the hurricane’s eye was our way of honoring his legacy of adventure and teamwork,” Murillo remarked.
Dodge, who passed away in March 2023, had participated in over 386 hurricane research flights. His ashes, wrapped in the flag of Florida, were accompanied by his flight suit name tag and a hurricane penetration patch—symbols of his extensive work amidst storms. Additionally, a Nepalese flag was included, commemorating his Peace Corps service there.
Honoring a Legacy of Adventure and Guidance
Laura Chaibongsai, NOAA's Acting Director of the Physical Oceanography Division, noted that similar sea burials have been conducted for other hurricane hunter team members. Michael Lowry, a hurricane specialist from WPLG in Miami, described the scattering of ashes and a vortex data message sent by the aircraft—which paid homage to Dodge’s final mission—as a “beautiful tribute.”
The message read, “PETER DODGE HX SCI (1950-2023) 387TH PENNY,” with “387th” referencing the number of flights he completed. Dodge was renowned for his expertise in radar data processing, flight module design, and mentoring numerous young scientists throughout his career. His accolades included the Army Corps of Engineers’ Patriotic Civil Service Award, and he continued his work even after losing his sight.
This commemorative flight also served a dual purpose, gathering real-time data on Milton for the National Hurricane Center (NHC).