George M Brata

George Milan Brata from Shelby Township, Michigan, went to heaven on Friday August 23, 2024 from his seasonal home in Delray Beach, Florida. He was 96 years old and had the great fortune to live a long and robust life. George was born in Detroit, Michigan, on April 20, 1928. He was raised in Dearborn, and later moved to Dearborn Heights, then on to West Bloomfield. George was the oldest of the three boys born to Joseph and Katherine Brata, who were both killed in an unfortunate automobile accident in Dearborn in 1969.

George was a devoted husband, father, and family man. He married Shirley May Reilly, a native Dearbornite, who was a product of the original one-room, little red country schoolhouse. They shared 50 wonderful years together until Shirley's passing in 2002. George found love again in Anne Szpieg, who was by his side for the past 20 plus years, up to the very end.

He doted on his only child, daughter Katherine, building her a custom playhouse and even knocking down a wall to expand her bedroom into a magical space. Father-Daughter dances were cherished by George as well as sharing outings with his daughter for ice cream and hot dogs with root beer at the A&W Root Beer Stand in Michigan.

George was a gentleman, and a classy sharp dresser, who enjoyed his favorite cocktail, Beefeater-on-the rocks, and loved the Opera. His favorite dinner, chicken livers, filet mignon, or scallops - it was a tie. Breakfast was his favorite food group, and if allowed, he would have it for every meal of the day. He was active in his church and guided by his faith in God every day. He was an avid golfer all his life, continuing to play into his 90's.

He was an automobile aficionado, and was once a proud owner of a very rare De Tomaso Mangusta. He was also the collector of hundreds of model cars of all makes and years, too numerous to count, and he amassed an automotive book collection just as substantial.

After graduating from Dearborn High School, his exceptional early mechanical talents were recognized with an honorary invitation to attend the exclusive and newly formed automotive industry sponsored Engineering and Design Program, conducted by the University of Michigan at the Rackham Center. He completed the program with distinction.

His long technical career started with brief employment at the Michigan Bell Telephone Company Engineering Department as a draftsman before entering the U.S Army. After completing basic training, he attended the Engineering School at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, after which he was assigned to the C.I.C. (Counter Intelligence Corps) attached to the Headquarters Company of the of the 2nd Infantry Division.

As a draftsman, his duties were the security of the strategic military and government installations, including the Oak Ridge, Tennessee, Nuclear Operations. He was shortly promoted to Chief Draftsman and attained the rank of Technical Sergeant during his tour of duty before being honorably discharged.

Returning to civilian life, he continued his engineering education at the University of California at Berkeley. Upon his return to Michigan, he accepted an opportunity to enter the automobile industry with the Ford Motor Company Styling Department in automotive design and clay modeling. Being offered a promotion and an opportunity for additional experience, George joined the Kaiser-Frazer Corporation Automotive Group and was subsequently promoted to the Aircraft Division as a Production Engineer on the final assembly line of the Fairchild C-119 and C-123 cargo aircraft projects, until the completion of the government contracts. When civilian automobile production was allowed to resume after WWII, he returned to the automotive industry with Chrysler Corporation's Dodge Division where he was one of the pioneers of Automotive Product Planning. He was shortly transferred to the corporate offices and promoted to the Executive level as Planning Manager and subsequently held various managerial positions in Product Planning and Design and Advanced Product Development. After a successful 35-year career with Chrysler Corporation, he retired in 1986.

George maintained his high level of interest in the automobile industry as independent consultant for an international automotive group. In 1992, he and his wife Shirley moved to Glendale, Arizona to be near their daughter and son-in-law. George continued his interest in automobiles and enjoyed keeping in contact with his colleagues in the industry by traveling to major races, rallies, and classic concours events throughout the country. In his later years, he and Anne divided their time between Michigan and Florida.

George was a lifetime member of Dearborn Lodge No. 172 and was a 32nd degree mason. He was a member of the Society of Automotive Engineers, the Elks Club, Arrowhead Country Club, and the West Valley Mariners, a radio-control model boat club. He is survived by his daughter and son-in-law Katherine and David Hawkins; his love Anne Szpieg; brothers, Daniel and Alexander; nieces Mary, Annie, Lydia (Cornel), and Linda; nephews Jim, John, and Tom.

A funeral mass will be held on Wednesday, September 18, 2024, at 10 am at St. Kieran Catholic Church, 53600 Mound Road, Shelby Township, Michigan 48316, with a luncheon to follow.

For those who are not able to attend in person, the mass will be live streamed. To access the live stream, please go to St. Kieran Catholic Church website and click on Watch Mass.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to your favorite charity in George’s honor.