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MICHAEL LEONARD ZAHN

Date of Passing: Jun 13, 2013

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MICHAEL LEONARD ZAHN Passed away unexpectedly in Montreal, on June 13, 2013, at the age of 51. Mike was predeceased by his parents Walter and Adina Zahn, aunts Anne and Klara (Gunter), and uncle Hermann. He is survived by his sister Dorothy (Ray), aunts Christina (David), Marlene (Ed), Anne (Harry), Anita, uncles Paul, Peter and Charlie (Annelies), and numerous cousins. Mike was born in Winnipeg where he grew up surrounded by extended family. He graduated from the University of Manitoba with a Bachelor's degree in engineering, then earned a Master's degree in engineering at McGill in Montreal. He would wind up working and making his home in the Montreal area for the next 24 years. Mike was a long-term employee of Canadian Aviation Electronics and his work took him to many places around the globe. Mike loved his work and travel, but he also had other passions. Many friends would have shared his love of skiing, Formula 1 racing, golfing, curling, cycling, hiking and canoeing, and kicking back with a beer. He also enjoyed music, photography, reading, chopping wood and Italian coffee. Mike had a special way with children, winning the hearts of many of his close friends' kids. Mike also developed a caring for dogs, and was the co-guardian of Ned and Atticus. Mike had a large circle of friends that meant a lot to him. Likewise, Mike was dear to many people. He is remembered for being "one of those rare people always in good spirits who left a lasting impression on all who knew him". He will be greatly missed by his sister, family members and many dear friends and their families including Bob Blanchard, Don and Rose Bushuk, Robert Heidt and Lisa Johnson, Ronnie Kellner, Patrick Laplante and Christine Villeneuve, Tony Menna and Brigitte Piuze, Sylvain Thibault and Erica VanGemeren, Jorge Vialard and Laurence DeMoerlooze, Jean Paul and Karin Vialard, F1 friends, the Vermont Golf group, and his extended CAE family. In loving memory of Michael Zahn donations can be made in lieu of flowers to the SPCA Montreal, tel. (514) 735-2711/2240, or the Faculty of Engineering Fund, McGill University, tel. (514) 398-1057 or online at www.aoc.mcgill.ca/give (specify "In memory of Michael Zahn"). Visitation with family and friends will take place at Kane & Fetterly funeral home (5301 boul. Decarie, Montreal) on Thursday, June 20 beginning at 9:00 a.m. Funeral service at 11:00 a.m. followed immediately by reception and sharing of 'Mike Moments'. Condolences may be sent at www.kanefetterly.com

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jun 18, 2013

Condolences & Memories (9 entries)

  • I am sorry I am so late with this. Mike was brilliant, good-hearted, and fun to be around. Thinking about him always brings a smile to my face. His wit - always minimalist - captured the entire essence and humor of any situation. - Posted by: Dale Martens (Friend) on: Apr 23, 2023

  • It has been over two years since Mike left us and he is still being missed. Wish you were here Mike. - Posted by: Andre Bourque (Work Colleague and friend) on: Jul 10, 2015

  • I just happened to look up Mike in the internet - wondering how he was doing. I only wish I had done this 10 years ago when I returned to Montreal. Mike and I did our MSc degrees under Professor Paidoussis at McGill - He used the wind tunnel and I, the water tunnel. Of course his results were much better than mine! Coincidentally we also lived on the same street - Lincoln. Mike enjoyed the Kenyan parties we often had in basement apartment; yep - the 'closet African' in him couldn't get enough of the Kenyan food and company... Again, I wish I had looked you up earlier Mike. See you on the other side - as we say in Africa. Njuki. - Posted by: Njuki Mureithi (Friend at McGill) on: Aug 01, 2014

  • A great junior high and high school friend has passed away. You will be missed. - Posted by: Darian Obrotza (friend) on: Jul 25, 2013

  • I used to work with Mike at CAE. I was saddened to recently hear of his passing. I got to know Mike during a sim retrofit in Alaska many years back. We had the opportunity to go hiking nearby and I remember how I had difficulty keeping up with him. He had a great sense of humor. I can still picture the way he laughed. During the retrofit, we took on a pet project to fix up one of the rickety cabinets that was annoying us. Mike was so pleased with the result that he took a picture of the cabinet. I still have that picture. Whenever we would run into each other at work, we would always talk about the only properly working cabinet in the field. - Posted by: Phil Sganos (Work colleague) on: Jul 25, 2013

  • Michael and I were friends from kindergarten through grade 12 as well as the University of Manitoba. We both shared a passion for golf and for the Boston Bruins as well as our favorite hockey player Bobby Orr. One of my favorite memories was when we were in junior high and we skipped school one afternoon to see Bobby Orr at an autograph session at The Bay Downtown Winnipeg. Michael was a great friend and will be missed dearly. - Posted by: Arden Bergstresser (Friend) on: Jun 20, 2013

  • I've known Mike since Junior High and High School and we were in Engineering at the University of Manitoba for a couple of years together. He was a very good friend and I always considered him as nice a person as he was intelligent - which is saying a lot. I visited him while I was in Montreal on a couple occasions in the 90s. It was great to see him again - just the same as if we were in high school. We attended an Expos game and he showed me the city. I recall asking him if he was coming to Winnipeg at any time during that summer. Mike said he initially hadn't planned on it but his father just bought a riding mower for the lake and he may need to come home to try it out. I said to him, "Mike, you travel the world working with the highest technology and you're making a trip to drive a riding mower?" We had a good laugh about it but, to me, it underlined his modesty and appreciation for the simple things. We hadn't talked recently but I will still miss Mike and his friendship very much. His family is in the prayers and thoughts of myself and my wife, Kathy. - Posted by: Kevin Ducheminsky (Friend) on: Jun 18, 2013

  • I met Mike eons ago for the first time in the field (Brussels) when he was a control force engineer and myself a comm. engineer. We hit it on quite well and stayed friends like forever. He will be missed. - Posted by: Allen Marchand (collegue and friend) on: Jun 18, 2013

  • I spent many hours with Mike here at RNAS Yeovilton in the U.K. He was a very easy man to get on with. In many ways he was my mentor, I learnt so much from him. He was a very kind, and patient man. He will be missed by us all here at Yeovilton. Richard Edwards - Posted by: Richard Edwards (Work colleague - United Kingdom) on: Jun 18, 2013

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