More detail on this person: Michael Sterling Melin February 29th, 1940~August 18th, 2005 Passed away in Buenos Aires, Argentina while on a short holiday. Born in St. Paul, MN to George Sterling Melin and Marjorie Culp Melin, Michael moved to Omaha, NE as a young boy where he joined the USMC while in high school. He attended Colorado State University before graduating with a B.A. in 1963 from San Jose State University where he played football and was president of his fraternity, Sigma Alpha Epsilon. Michael was a combat veteran of Vietnam where he flew UH-34 helicopters, survived three crashes in the ocean and earned 23 air medals. He continued his military service as a Captain in the reserves, flying the C-119, before retiring to join United Airlines in 1967. He retired from UAL as a 747 Captain in 2000 after 33 years of flying. Michael loved sports and was an avid skier, tennis player and competitive sailor. He loved to race his boat on SF Bay where he won many races and also competed in an airline regatta every year in the British Virgin Islands. He especially loved bareboat cruising, one of his favorites being from St. Tropez, France to Athens and another along the Turkish coast. Michael was equally passionate about people, travel, the opera, English cars and his English bulldog, Lolita. Often described as larger than life, Michael was a kind, generous man who had a large circle of friends fortunate to have known him and will miss his smiling face and warm-hearted spirit. He lived every day to its fullest and was the eternal optimist. A longtime Mill Valley resident, Michael was a member of the Sausalito Yacht Club, Harbor Point Racquet Club, the Marine Memorial Club, USMC/Vietnam Helicopter Association, Retired United Pilots Association, the Bulldog Club of No. CA and E Clampus Vitus. Michael is survived by his wife, Patricia son, Stephen, daughter, Ingrid and her husband, Larry Goldfarb, grandson, Julian; and one aunt and four cousins in Minnesota. Friends are invited to attend a Memorial Celebration of Michael's remarkable life on Friday, October 7th at 1:00 p.m. at the Sausalito Yacht Club. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made to the charity of your choice.
Burial information: Golden Gate National Cemetery, San Bruno, CA
This information was last updated 07/24/2019
Please send additions or corrections to: HQ@vhpa.org VHPA Headquarters
Return to the Helicopter Pilot DAT name list
Return to VHPA web site
Date posted on this site: 03/10/2024
Copyright © 1998 - 2024 Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association