Milton Elwood Brelsford Jr.

Milton E. Brelsford, Jr. aka “Papa Bear”, age 92, of Cape Coral, FL, passed away peacefully on February 2, 2026, with his loving wife Elaine of 73 years at his side. He was born on February 28, 1933 in Bridgeport, Connecticut to the late Milton E. and Olive M. Brelsford.

Milton was also known to family and close friends as “Chick”, a nickname endeared to him by his father. Having been raised in the Trumbull/Stratford area through the recovery from the Depression and second World War, he learned many valuable life skills like always saving and doing things yourself. He rebuilt his first V8 engine when he was 10 and became known for being able to repair just about anything. Chick worked hard delivering newspapers on his bicycle, as a soda jerk at Pollacks Drugstore, and as a land surveyor for the city. Chick would ride his bicycle 12 miles one-way to see the love of his life—his future bride, “Elaine” whom he met while roller skating on Valentines Day. Their loving relationship has always been an inspiration to everyone who knew them. A graduate of Stratford Highschool in 1951, he always had something to say.

He was a veteran of the Korean War having served in the Navy Seabees. He was married in 1952 and raised his family across the continent and made several close friends in Connecticut, Newfoundland, Virginia, Florida, and California. He was blessed with three children, four grandchildren, and six great grandchildren.

In the late 50s, he moved his young family to the warmth of Miami working both construction and as an installer for Sea View Awnings all while attending school. After graduating from George T. Baker Aviation Technical College in 1962 specializing in maintenance, Chick worked for a number of airlines paving his way to a lifetime career with Pan American World Airways. He was employed with Pan Am to the last fly over, specialized in Boeing 747 aircraft, and was present for the delivery of the first B-747 to be placed in-service.

Chick was a strong caring man who took care of his family. He once had to decide to put gas in the car to take him for a job interview vs. buying bread. He provided a loving atmosphere of strict guidance, morality, and discipline with warm encouragement instilling the life lessons and tools one needed to succeed as a responsible adult. He enjoyed boating and camping with family and friends—especially fishing in the back country of the Everglades and countless trips to Elliot Key. When a free Saturday afternoon presented itself, Chick could be found humbling himself on the golf course. The sound of laughter with close friends could always be heard from playing penuckle and canastas long into a Saturday night. Not always the cook, Chick experimented in the kitchen coming up with his own recipes for vegetarian pasta and oatmeal cookies. Throughout his life, he was always making custom lamps out of everything from barrels to--fishing rods--to-golf clubs--to boat propellers depending on the recipients’ interests.

Milton was preceded in death by his parents Milton E. and Olive M. Brelsford, step-father Peter J. Fox, and daughter-in-law Jeanine M. Brelsford, and niece Patricia McClean.

He is survived by his wife Elaine L. Brelsford aka (Mama Bear), brother and sister-in-law Donald and Imogene Brelsford; by his sons and daughter in-laws, Milton III and Jodi Brelsford, and Timothy and Elsa Brelsford, and his daughter and son-in-law Diana and Robin Soares; his grandchildren and their spouses Milton IV and Amanda Brelsford, Brandon and Caitlin Brelsford, Daniel and Donna Sinclair and Sarah and Damon Maxey; his great grandchildren, Milton V and Addison Brelsford, twins Gracie-Elaine and Levi Brelsford, Hayden Sinclair, and Connor Maxey; and nephews Thomas Brelsford and Bruce Simokat; nieces Donna Cope, Janet Bastyr, Linda-Lee Ewing, Karen Appleby, and Dawn Lero.

A celebration of life will be held at a later date.