Constantine Zinon Michael

Constantine Z. (Mike) Michael, of Wellington, FL and Syosset, NY passed away after a long illness on February 23rd, 2015. Born in Ismailia, Egypt, he was 95 years old. He is survived by his son Nicholas Michael of Bedford, MA and his daughter Maria Michael of Pleasant Hill, CA. He is also survived by his daughter-in-law, Jane Turner Michael and his grandchildren Elyssa, Adam, and Christopher Michael and Ephthalia and Florian Schwarzinger Michael. Mike was the first-born son of Eleni (Helen) Thomas Michael of Kephalonia, Greece and her husband, Zinon Michael a British subject and citizen of Cyprus. Constantine immigrated to the United States on the Isle de France with his mother in 1930, coming through Ellis Island, to join his father, who had previously attained his US citizenship. They subsequently settled in Hell’s Kitchen, New York City, NY.

In 1939, after graduating from Harren High School in 1938, where he studied avionics, Constantine worked for Grumman Aircraft (1939 – 1942) where he was involved with the designs of the F4F Hellcat, the F6F Wildcat and the TBF Avenger, all of which saw action for the3 Navy in World War II. He also worked at the US Naval Air Station at Roosevelt Field on Long Island, NY, (1943) before trying to enlist in the US Army Air Force (eye sight issues).

Mr. Michael subsequently went on to serve in the U.S. Army during World War II in the Signal Corps between December 4th 1943 and May 9th, 1946. Following the war, he resumed his education at New York University (at night) earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Aeronautical Engineering in June of 1954, while simultaneously beginning a career as an aeronautical engineer with Republic Aviation Corp., a defense manufacturer in Farmingdale, NY which spanned nearly four decades. During his tenure at Republic he served in a variety of engineering and management positions on the following aircraft for the US Air Force: F-84 Thunderjet, the F-105 Thunderchief and the A-10 Thunderbolt (Warthog). He was also involved with Republic’s sub contract work on the Boeing 747 and with Grumman’s Apollo Lunar Landing Vehicles. He retired from Fairchild/Republic on January 1st, 1982.

Constantine Michael was a long-time and devoted member of St. Catherine’s Greek Orthodox Church in West Palm Beach, FL and of St. Paul’s Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Hempstead, NY. He served enthusiastically as President of the Parish Council at both churches. He also served on the boards of several church and community related organizations such as the Festival Committee, the Greek (Youth) School Committee and the Boy Scout Troup 568 in Hempstead, NY.

Viewing and Trisagion prayers will be offered on February 25th, at Quattlebaum Funeral Home, 5411 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach between 6:30 pm and 8:30p. Funeral services will be held on Thursday, February 26th, at St. Catherine’s Greek Orthodox Church, 110 Southern Blvd, West Palm Beach, FL 33405 at 11:00 am.

A Church Service honoring his memory will also take place at St. Paul’s Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Hempstead, NY on March 2nd at 11:00 am, followed immediately by his internment at Woodlawn Cemetery, Bronx, NY.

Eternal be his Memory.