Sally Ride - Personal Life

Personal Life

Ride was extremely private about her personal life. She married fellow NASA astronaut Steve Hawley in 1982; they divorced in 1987.

After death, her obituary revealed that Ride's partner of 27 years was Tam O'Shaughnessy, a professor emerita of school psychology at San Diego State University and childhood friend, who met Ride when both were aspiring tennis players. O'Shaughnessy became a science teacher and writer and, later, the chief operating officer and executive vice president of Ride's company, Sally Ride Science. She co-authored several books with Ride. Their relationship was revealed by the company and confirmed by Ride's sister who also stated that Ride chose to keep her personal life private, including her sickness and treatments. Ride is the first known LGBT astronaut.

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