Remembering Dad

Today is the 12th anniversary of my father's death.

Here is the obituary I wrote honoring my father, and printed by the San Pedro News-Pilot and the Los Angeles Times, June 21, 1996:

Private services are planned for Glenn T. Sink, a 39-year resident of San Pedro, who died of pancreatic cancer June 12, 1996. Mr. Sink, 68, was an aircraft engineer and an international expert on metal corrosion. He lectured and presented technical papers around the world on his research in hydrogen embrittlement failure. He produced the bulk of his professional contributions during a 31-year career with the Douglas Aircraft Co., garnering several patents on chemical processes.

After retiring in 1983, he traveled and worked overseas, sharing his experience and research with other scientists and engineers. In 1987, he travelled to Shanghai to help the Chinese build nose sections of commercial aircraft, and in 1990-91, served as a resident manufacturing consultant in Chengdu, in Western China.

While at Douglas, he was instrumental in founding the Airlines Plating Forum, an international association of aircraft manufacturers and commercial airline companies dedicated to sharing technical information. His other affiliations included the National Association of Corrosion Engineers [Note: Dad always called them The Corroded Engineers], the American Chemical Society and the Metall-Oberflachen Gesellschaft, a European electroplaters consortium.

An accomplished musician since childhood, Mr. Sink was hired by a music studio to teach boogie-woogie piano at the age of 14. He switched to performing in dance bands during World War II, played jazz in the 1950s and then in 1975, began learning and mastering ragtime music.

He spoke three languages fluently and traveled extensively, visiting every continent except Antarctica and every state but North Dakota. He began flying lessons at age 49, and flew small airplanes in the western states, Alaska, Mexico and Europe. He was also an avid sailor, crewing occasionally on races to Ensenada, and more relaxed weekly sailing in the Catalina Channel.

Mr. Sink is survived by his wife of 45 years, Aileen M. of San Pedro, who taught choral music at both Dodson Junior High and Narbonne High schools; a son, Air Force Lt. Col. Jerry T. Sink, a 1972 graduate of San Pedro High School; a daughter, Pam Sink-Plemitscher, a 1970 San Pedro High graduate; and four grandchildren: Juliana, Alex, Bonnie and Angela.

Family services will be at sea, with ragtime music playing in the background.

*****

(Dear Dad: Love you always, still miss you like crazy...Love, Pam)

*****

Also notable today: My niece, Bonnie, graduates from Timberline High School in Olympia, WA tonight. Her cousins, Juli & Alex are taking the train down from Seattle; her paternal grandmother (my mom), flew up from L.A. yesterday, and I'm sending my best wishes from hot-hot TN! Congratulations, beautiful & bright Bonnie!