George “Mike” Michael
Walker,
49, died at Yale’s Smilow Cancer Center, New Haven Connecticut, July 23, 2010.
Mike was born in Denver, Colorado Oct 2, 1960 to Pat Lind (Zankman) and George Walker.
A born engineer, Mike graduated from the University of Connecticut in Mechanical Engineering. Mechanical engineering schools compete yearly in the development of high technology racing cars. Right up Mike’s alley—two years running he designed, helped build, and raced UConn’s entry. Mike was never far from water or from boats, while at UConn he did all the deck and interior teak work on a 60-foot sailboat. For several years, he lived on his 35-foot 1960 wooden Christ Craft on the Connecticut River. Always tinkering, he rebuilt his boat (more than once), and was rebuilding a 1970 Jaguar. More recently Mike earned a master’s from Fairfield University in engineering technology management.
Since 1998, Mike has been employed at Sikorksy, Stratford, Ct. as lead airframe design engineer. Mike just completed the delivery of 21 S70B Blackhawk helicopters for Sikorksy—ahead of schedule and below budget. He re-designed a cockpit door latch now being installed on all Sikorsky helicopters. Mike also designed the phylon extension of the Seahawk to incorporate advanced avionics, meeting the Coast Guard’s post 9/11 Homeland Security requirements.
Mike was an Air Force vet. He served at Lakenheath, England.
Mike loved to travel and met his future wife, Dora, in Columbia. They were married in September
2009. Easter 2010 they returned to Columbia to visit her family. While there, he and his brother, Nathan, traveled to the Amazon. Mike refused to let his cancer dictate his life and continued to work up to two weeks before his death.
Mike leaves behind his wife, Dora, his mother Pat Zankman, brother Nathan, sister Jennifer (Jim) Sorosiak, niece Carlie, and stepsister Darra. Mike leaves a space in our hearts and lives that cannot be filled. Mike had many relatives in Grand Marais and elsewhere.
He was preceded in death by his stepfather Ernie Zankman, grandparents Ed and Ruby Lind, and a stepsister Allyson.
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