Mihai Baicanu

Beloved family, dear gathering, Christian brothers and sisters.

Jesus Christ says, "Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming" - Matthew 25:13.

He was born on February 15, 1931 in Popricani, Iasi, Romania, the fifth in a family of seven children, from parents Victoria and Constantin. He attends to primary school in Popricani. At the age of 12 he goes to Bucharest, at the urging of the primary school principal, Mr. Vrăjmașu, to attend the Industrial Technical School for 5 years.

On January 4, 1951 he enrolls in the Military School of Artillery Officers, in Sibiu, which he graduates in July 1952, subsequently being employed as a young lieutenant in the 189th Howitzer Brigade.

Between April 14 and October 26, 1953 he attends the School of Air Observers, which also leads to the change of his military specialty, being enrolled at graduation in the 294th Aviation Regiment as navigator and officer directing the command point.

On December 22, 1953 he marries Butnariu Elena, and subsequently they have a son named Costel.

In the autumn of 1954 he goes to the former USSR to the Navigator School for 9 months.

On March 26, 1960 he moves to the 93rd Aviation Regiment, in Giarmata, Timisoara, where he serves as flight coordination navigator.

In 1975 he goes to the former USSR to Astrakhan, with 12 pilots at flight verification exams, being navigator – military aircraft guidance operator, in the examination commission being present the Supreme Commander of the Warsaw Pact. He directed the squadrons from Giarmata and obtained exceptional results, then he directed the squadron from Kogălniceanu, where he also obtained exceptional results. Upon his return to Romania, he is promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel and assigned to Bacău, as a navigator directing military and civil aviation.

During his military activity he conducted a number of 3621 interceptions as navigator-operator on MiG-15, MiG-19 and MiG-21 within M.U. 01876.

On December 20, 1976, he is forcibly placed in reserve with the rank of lieutenant colonel due to his belief in God, which was not allowed by the communist regime. He is summoned by the Chief of General Staff of the Romanian Army, Ioan Coman, who later became Minister of National Defense, to be offered reinstatement, but on condition that he renounces his faith in God. He expresses his great desire to return to the army, but not at the cost of giving up faith in God, without which he could not live. This is not possible, and as a result he is not reinstated.

On March 24, 1987, his wife dies, and he remarries Stoica Cornelia on August 17,1987 and adopts her daughter, Sonia, who was 4 years old.

On November 23, 1995, he is exceptionally promoted to the rank of Commander (retired), with the right to wear military uniform.

As an officer he worked conscientiously to fulfill functional duties, proving that he has the necessary training and skills for these functions. He was an exceptional officer, very well trained professionally, active and combative in discussions, with a well-defined personality, always making an effort to enrich his knowledge, being appreciated throughout his career by his comrades.

He departed from among us to be eternally with God and will remain forever in our memory.

A visitation for Mihai will be held Friday, June 30, 2023 from 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM at Forest Lawn Funeral Home (Pyramid), 2401 Southwest 64th Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33317. A funeral service will occur Saturday, July 1, 2023 at 10:00 AM, Forest Lawn Funeral Home (Pyramid), 2401 Southwest 64th Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33317. A committal service will occur Saturday, July 1, 2023 at 1:30 PM at Lauderdale Memorial Park, 2001 SW 4th Ave, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33315.

ROMANIAN TRANSLATION

Iubita familie, draga adunare, frați creștini.

Spune Domnul Hristos: “privegheați si va rugați, caci nu știți nici ziua, nici ceasul in care va veni Fiul Omului”- Matei 25:13.

Se naște la 15 februarie 1931 in comuna Popricani, județul Iași al cincilea într-o familie de șapte copii, cu părinții Victoria si Constantin. Scoala primara o urmează in Popricani. La vârsta de 12 ani pleca la București, la indemnul directorului școlii primare, domnul Vrăjmașu, pentru a urma Scoala Tehnica Industriala timp de 5 ani.

In data de 4 ianuarie 1951 se înscrie la Scoala Militara de Ofițeri de Artilerie, in Sibiu, pe care o absolveste in luna iulie 1952, ulterior fiind încadrat ca tânăr locotenent la Brigada 189 Obuziere;

In perioada 14 aprilie – 26 octombrie 1953 urmează cursurile Scolii de Observatori Aerieni fapt care a dus si la schimbarea specialității militare, fiind încadrat la absolvire la Regimentul 294 Aviație ca navigator si ofițer cu dirijarea punctului de comanda;

In data de 22 decembrie 1953 se căsătorește cu Butnariu Elena, in urma căsătoriei rezultând un fiu pe nume Costel.

In toamna anului 1954 pleca in fosta URSS la Scoala de navigatori pentru 9 luni.

Din 26 martie 1960 se muta la Regimentul 93 Aviatie, la Giarmata, Timișoara, unde îndeplinește funcția de navigator cu coordonarea zborurilor.

In anul 1975 pleca in fosta URSS la Astrakhan, cu 12 piloți la examene de verificare zbor, fiind navigator-operator cu dirijarea avioanelor militare, in comisia de examinare fiind prezent Comandantul Suprem al Pactului de la Varșovia. A dirijat escadrilele de la Giarmata si a obținut rezultate excepționale, apoi a dirijat escadrila de la Kogălniceanu, unde de asemenea a obținut rezultate excepționale. La întoarcerea in tara este avansat la gradul de locotenent colonel si repartizat la Bacău, ca navigator cu dirijarea aviației militare si civile.

In cursul activității militare a efectuat un numar de 3621 de interceptari in functia de navigator-operator pe MiG-15, MiG-19 si MiG-21 in cadrul U.M. 01876.

La data de 20 decembrie 1976, este trecut forțat in rezerva cu gradul de locotenent colonel datorita credinței in Dumnezeu, aceasta nefiind îngăduit de regimul comunist. Este chemat de Șeful Marelui Stat Major al Armatei Romane, Ioan Coman, devenit apoi Ministrul Apărării Naționale pentru a i se propune reîncadrarea in funcție, dar cu condiția de a renunța la credința in Dumnezeu. El își exprima marea dorința de a se reîntoarce in armata, dar nu cu prețul renunțării la credința in Dumnezeu, fără de care nu poate trai. Aceasta nu este posibil, ca urmare nu este reîncadrat in funcție.

La data de 24 martie 1987 soția ii decedează si se recăsătorește apoi cu Stoica Cornelia la data de 17 august 1987 si o adopta pe fiica acesteia, Sonia care avea 4 ani.

La data de 23 noiembrie 1995, este avansat in mod excepțional la gradul de Comandor in retragere, cu dreptul de a purta uniforma militara.

In calitatea de ofițer a muncit conștiincios pentru îndeplinirea atribuțiilor funcționale, dovedind ca are pregătirea si aptitudinile necesare acestor funcții. A fost un ofițer excepțional, foarte bine pregătit profesional, activ si combativ in discuții, cu o personalitate bine conturata, depunând întotdeauna efort pentru îmbogățirea cunoștințelor sale, fiind apreciat de-a lungul carierei de camarazii săi.

A plecat de printre noi pentru a fi pentru eternitate cu Dumnezeu si va rămâne pentru totdeauna in memoria noastră.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.forestlawnsouth.com for the Baicanu family.