A woman of many talents, Jeannette Piccard was an accomplished scientist, teacher, priest, and aeronaut. A member of a family of balloonists, in 1934 she became the first pilot — and the first woman — to reach the stratosphere. Piccard worked on several high-profile balloon projects alongside her husband, Jean Piccard. They are credited with the invention of the plastic balloon. Her life-long dream, however, was to become a priest. In 1974, at the age of 79, she made history as one of the Philadelphia 11 — the first woman to be ordained priests in the Episcopal Church, in a controversial liturgy preceding authorization of the ordination of women. Piccard served in Minnesota until her death at age 86. | 
