Capt. Paul W. Mlinar, Jr. died on May 3, 2026. He was 80 years old. He was born in York, Pennsylvania, to Paul W. Mlinar, Sr. and Mildred Mlinar. His father would become the first pilot hired by Seaboard. He graduated from the University of Massachusetts where he earned a degree in Restaurant and Hotel Management. Paul played defensive end on the college's football team. He was an accomplished wrestler, going undefeated during his postgraduate year at Northfield Mount Hermon School.
Paul's airline career started at Seaboard in 1968 when he was 22 years old, continued through the Flying Tiger years, and finally ended when he retired from FedEx after almost 44 years later, a remarkable span.
Paul is survived by his wife, Wendy Weinstock Mlinar, whom he met in college 62 years earlier; his son, Gavin P. Mlinar, daughter-in-law Amanda B. Mlinar and his grandchildren, Halsey and Paul Mlinar.
He is seen here with his father after his father's last flight in September, 1969. He was his father's co-pilot on that flight.