Michael D. Jelenick

Michael D. Jelenick
OTTAWA, ONTARIO, CANADA -- Mr. Jelenick, born October 3, 1920 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, passed away unexpectedly yet peacefully in his sleep on August 19, 2004 at the Palisades Retirement Residence in Ottawa. He was the beloved husband of the late Ralphene McKay for 33 years until her death in September, 1986; the cherished youngest brother of Agness (Aglaya), Alex, and Minnie (Marenka), all deceased; the great uncle of Michel Hilliard of Kemptville, ON; 'Uncle Mickey' to Wendy King of Nepean, ON, Gayle Holmes of Ottawa, ON and the late Adele Gosselin of Brandon, Manitoba and Uncle Mike to Robbin Hilliard and the late Gerry Hilliard and the late Mike Hilliard, all of Ottawa.
He will be sorely missed and always remembered by his only son, Michael Stuart Jelenick of Charlotte, North Carolina, and his 3 children, Lana Ralphene, Reva Jane Aglaya, and Jackson Stuart. His untimely passing has left an emptiness with many of the staff and residents of the Palisades as well as his many friends in Canada and the U.S.
Mike received his primary education in Ottawa where he enjoyed sports, developed his talent with the clarinet (he affectionately referred to it as the 'swine-et'), and worked tirelessly in the family restaurant as a short order cook. He went on to receive two aeronautical engineering degrees from two U.S. schools - Tri-State College, Angola, Indiana, and the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan. This was necessary owing to the advent of the turbojet engine after his graduation from Tri-State. He worked in the U.S. during the 1940's on prototype aircraft for the U.S. military. Mike subsequently served the Canadian government for over 30 years as an aeronautical engineer in the Department of Transport involved in all aspects of civil aviation, retiring in 1978. He was the key contributor in the airworthiness certification of the deHavilland Beaver, Twin Otter and Caribou aircraft as well as the Canadair CL-44, a swing tail turboprop transport. As Chief Aeronautical Engineer, Mike represented Canada for many years in Montreal at I.C.A.O. (International Civil Aviation Organization), the civil aeronautic arm of the United Nations. During his tenure with Transport, Mike was often sought out and cited by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration based on his extensive expertise and experience in civil aviation. His advice and recommendations were always clear, concise, and accurate.
In both his professional and personal life, he established and forged long-lasting relationships based on his integrity, character, and his unerring support. He touched many lives with his wit and humor while giving selflessly with his time, concern, effort, and money to those he cared about and appreciated.
His impact on those who knew him was exceptional, extraordinary, and enigmatic; as was the man himself. He had a full life, cheating death on numerous occasions. Between 1960 and 2003, he survived 3 heart attacks in 1960, 1978, and 1994, gall bladder removal (1969), carotid endarterectomy (1985), triple by-pass heart surgery (1994), successful prostate cancer treatment (2003) and the early stages of diabetes (2003).
He was cremated on August 25, 2004. His ashes were returned to Charlotte, NC to join his late wife, Ralphene. Mike was a long standing patient and supporter of the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN. Therefore, in lieu of flowers, donations on Mike's behalf can be made to the: Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN 55905, 800-297-1185.
HIS LEGACY WILL LIVE ON IN ALL WHO KNEW HIM.