Sergei Sikorsky, Son Of Stratford Company’s Founder, Dies At 100

STRATFORD, CT — Sergei I. Sikorsky – the son of aviation pioneer Igor Sikorsky – died Sept. 18 at the age of 100, Stratford-based Sikorsky announced.

“The entire team – past and present – at Sikorsky and Lockheed Martin mourn the passing of a remarkable man, a link to the golden age of aviation who meant so much to the success of our business,” Rich Benton, Sikorsky vice president and general manager, said in a statement from the company. “Sergei will be greatly missed.”

Sergei Sikorsky served in the U.S. Coast Guard during World War II and was assigned to the Helicopter Development Unit. He began his 41-year career with the Sikorsky company in 1951 in international marketing and sales.

Sergei Sikorsky is being remembered as a “remarkable man who meant so much to aviation history, the Sikorsky business, its employees and the greater Stratford, Connecticut, community,” according to a news release from the company.

“The remarkable impact of the Sikorsky family spans generations, touching every current and former employee, engineer and technician, the places we live and work and the countless lives saved by the helicopter,” the news release states. “During his distinguished 41-year career with Sikorsky, Sergei played a significant role in the company’s growth into one of the world’s leading helicopter manufacturers and the expansion of rotary aircraft around the world.”

Sergei Sikorsky returned to the United States in 1976 at the “dawn of the Black Hawk era to become division vice president in Stratford, overseeing the company’s co-production programs,” according to the news release.

“Sergei would later take on marketing and special project roles until retiring in 1992,” the news release states. “Even in retirement, Sergei remained active with the company, serving as a goodwill ambassador at major trade shows and other events where he would sign autographs, speak about his family’s legacy and highlight an immeasurable passion for the helicopter and its promise to save lives around the world.

“The aircraft hangar at Sikorsky’s Stratford facility was dedicated as the Sergei I. Sikorsky Flight Center in 2019. Sergei called it his life’s ‘single greatest honor.’”