Michael Bihn

1932 - 2015

Michael ("Mike") Bihn, former airline pilot, father, and neighborhood mentor, passed away at home surrounded by friends and family on January 11th, 2015. He was 82 years old.
Mike was born in San Jose, California to Leo and Elizabeth Bihn, on November 13th, 1932. He graduated from Fremont High School in Sunnyvale in 1950 and joined the US Air Forces months before the start of the Korean War. During his 4-year enlistment, Mike became an aircraft mechanic, specializing in maintaining the latest jet engines.
Within a year of leaving the Air Force, he began working as a mechanic for United Airlines. A few months later, he married Barbara Carnes, started a family, and began learning to fly small planes. To make ends meet, he taught a jet engine class at San Mateo Community College, where a couple of his students suggested he apply for a job as a flight engineer for Pan Am. 30 years later, Mike retired from Pan Am as a 747 captain.
During next nearly 30 years of his life, he became a beloved mentor and tutor to the neighborhood in Watsonville where he had retired. In his final weeks, these children and their children visited and comforted Mike with their love and gratitude.
Mike instilled in all those whose lives he touched, an endless and joyful curiosity about science, nature and world in which we live. He leaves behind four children Gregory, Daniel, Thomas, Kimberly, grandson Alexander, and granddaughter Gina.
In lieu of flowers, the family is suggesting donation be made to Hospice of Santa Cruz. Please visit mikebihn.com for photos and comments.