Thomas Henry Kewin, 96 of Mill Valley, CA died at home August 15, 2018. He was preceded in death by his parents George and Velma (Morris) Kewin. He is survived by his wife of 37 years, Phyllis (Stoeber) Kewin, and sons George Bonte Kewin of New York City and Paul Scott Kewin of Sacramento, daughter-in-law Diane D’Arezzo Kewin of Sacramento, grandchildren Sara Hope Yeffa and John Thomas Kewin, step-daughters Jeannie Brown and Wendy Dellangelica, and daughter-in-law Jewiel Latonio Kewin. His first wife Hope Parkinson Kewin preceded him in death in 1976, as did his son Jack Henry Kewin in 2017.
Tom started his own obituary: “Fresh out of the Boeing School of Aeronautics, Tom was hired by Pan American Airways Systems in March 1943 as an apprentice Flight Engineer (Rocket Ranger). After 5 months of training at Treasure Island he made his first trip to Hawaii as the Second Engineer on the Martin M-130 ‘China Clipper.’ Twenty-two and a half hours!
In April 1946 he flew the last flight of a Pan Am Flying Boat. In February 1970 he flew an inaugural flight of the new 747 (Los Angeles to Honolulu).” We add he flew charters with Pan Am into war zones during WWII, the Korean and Viet Nam Wars.
Born June 29, 1922 in Modesto, he worked in his grandfather’s lumber yard and mill at 16, made his skis, rebuilt his first car (’27 Model A), competed on the Modesto JC Ski Team, accepted to Stanford, attended Boeing School of Aeronautics. He served the US Navy and US Army, was ski champion of Japan and an aspiring Olympic competitor. His skilled hands restored airplanes, built sailboats and built and remodeled homes. He found joy as a husband, father, grandfather and mentor. Tom was an avid golfer, traveler, hiker, gold miner and storyteller.
In the 60’s and 70’s he impacted families as Scout Master of Mill Valley Troop 34 and the owner of Kiski Ski Lodge on Donner Summit. After retiring from Pan Am in 1982, Tom stayed active in the flying world – rebuilt a Tiger Moth biplane, member of Pan Am Clipper Pioneers and well known for talks on the history of Pan Am in WWII and Clipper Flying Boats. He wrote of his experiences in his book “The Pan Am Journey.”
A good flight, indeed!
Family members are planning a memorial. Tom asked his obituary end: “My wife Phyllis completed my life. My first wife Hope, mother of my 3 sons, was the first stewardess to fly across the Pacific Ocean.”
Published in San Francisco Chronicle on Aug. 26, 2018