Buzz Aldrin drops lawsuit against family ahead of Apollo 11 anniversaries

Seeking to restore family harmony months before 50th anniversary celebrations of the first human moon landing, Apollo 11 astronaut Buzz Aldrin has dropped a lawsuit that accused two of his children and the family foundation of abusing his finances and trust. 

His children, Andy and Jan, also have dismissed an effort to win legal guardianship of their father, an 89-year-old Satellite Beach resident whom they claimed suffers from dementia. 

“This was the most charitable way to manage a difficult situation, as this year, which marks 50 years since we first step foot on the moon, is too important to my family, the nation and me," Buzz Aldrin said in a statement Wednesday.

The statement said that Aldrin appreciated the support he has received since filing his civil lawsuit last summer, and "believes these dismissals are the right thing to do and will help restore family harmony."

Jan and Andy Aldrin echoed that sentiment in a separate statement.

“We are pleased to confirm that the legal proceedings for guardianship as well as civil actions have been dismissed by members of the Aldrin family," they said. "We truly appreciate the support we have received from so many and ask, again, for your understanding and respect as we continue to work through this as a family, in a private manner.”

Original story:Buzz Aldrin sues his family alleging fraud

Archive story:Buzz Aldrin explains why he was a no-show at Apollo 11 gala at Kennedy Space Center

Archive story:Buzz Aldrin dispute puts spotlight on guardianship issues

The legal reconciliation comes as the family approaches what was shaping up to be an awkward celebration of the July 20, 1969 moon landing. 

Buzz Aldrin has organized his own anniversary gala on July 13 at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California. Proceeds will benefit the Human Spaceflight Institute, a nonprofit that Aldrin says will study collaborative approaches to advancing deep space exploration. Tickets are on sale starting at $1,000, while a $3,500 VIP package has sold out.

That event falls in the middle of a "Celebrating Apollo" weekend on the Space Coast, which includes a golf tournament, pub crawl, Alan Parsons concert and an astronaut parade in Cocoa Beach.

The Aldrin Family Foundation, in partnership with the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation, will host their annual fundraising gala at Kennedy Space Center on July 16, the anniversary of Aldrin's launch atop a Saturn V rocket with Neil Armstrong and Michael Collins. Tickets valued at up to $3,500 are sold out. 

It was not immediately clear if Buzz Aldrin would attend both galas. He was conspicuously absent from last year's gala at KSC, which came about a month after Aldrin had filed his civil suit in Brevard County Circuit Court and a barrage of news stories that followed airing the family conflict. 

The suit alleged that Andy, Jan and Christina Korp, Adlrin's longtime business manager, misused credit cards, refused to disclose financial information and slandered Aldrin by telling others he had dementia and Alzheimer's disease.

Archive story:Buzz Aldrin attorney withdraws from moonwalker’s fight with kids

Archive story:Attorney drops out of Buzz Aldrin's case against family

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Aldrin took legal action in retaliation against his children's bid to win guardianship over his affairs. A medical panel evaluated Aldrin's competency as part of the guardianship case, but its findings and other court records were sealed.

Aldrin sought to remove Andy as the controlling trustee of an estate that oversees memorabilia worth millions of dollars.  

Meanwhile, Aldrin's children said their father was the victim of "opportunistic agents" engaged in elder exploitation. 

"Let it be clear that every one of these allegations are products of the increased confusion and memory loss that Dad has demonstrated in recent years," they said last June.

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Aldrin changed attorneys several times, with at least two Florida-based lawyers citing "irreconcilable differences" with the legendary astronaut. 

As recently as last month, Morgan Stanley sought the court's guidance on how to handle one of Aldrin's trust funds amid conflicting instructions from Aldrin and his family. 

But as of Wednesday, the legal differences, at least, appeared to have been resolved. 

Aldrin said he looked forward to joining "all my friends" at the California gala, but made no mention of the family foundation's Apollo celebration in Florida.

"It will be an event to remember!" the Apollo 11 moonwalker said. "Onward!"

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