Michael Harry Stellman
February 23, 1940 ~ January 18, 2026
Michael Harry Stellman passed away January 18, 2026, at the age of 85.
Michael was born in Detroit Michigan on February 23, 1940, to Cecilia B. Rynkowski and Harry C. Stellman. He spent his early childhood in the Poletown-Hamtramck area of Detroit and later moved to the suburbs where he graduated from Southfield High School. Michael continued his education, receiving a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from Wayne State University and a Master of Business Administration from George Washington University. He married Carolyn Jean Stoker in 1963 and moved to Lexington Park, Maryland, where he took a job at the Patuxent River Naval Air Test Center (NATC). Michael worked at NATC as a civil servant for 38 years supporting the testing and evaluation of naval aviation systems. He married his beloved wife Beverly Kay Haines in 1990.
Michael was a life-long learner and voracious reader with broad interests and expertise in math, computers, and history. He was a self-taught architect that designed numerous homes that were built throughout southern Maryland. Michael loved crossword puzzles, jeopardy, trivia, cooking, wine, pasta, and perogies. Most of all, he had a true passion for automobiles. Michael would be considered an expert in the history of the American auto industry by any measure. He loved reading about cars, driving cars, and buying cars, especially Corvettes. Michael had a witty sense of humor. He enjoyed making people smile and was quick with a silly joke. Michael was also a deep thinker and a problem solver. He was always up for working a puzzle or figuring out how something worked. Michael loved his family and always seemed to show up the most when things were at their toughest. He was truthful and loyal, and you could always count on him to be in your corner.
Michael is survived by his wife Beverly Stellman, son, Chris (Melissa) Stellman, daughter Kelly (Frank) Cooney, stepson, Shayne Speach, and grandchildren, Emily, Jack, Joe, and Jason. He is preceded in death by his parents, Cecilia and Harry, sister, Mary Ann, and first wife Carolyn.
A family gathering to celebrate Michael’s life will be held at a future date. In Michael’s honor, the family asks that in lieu of flowers you give someone a great book to read.
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I am so sorry for the loss of Michael. It’s been many years since I have seen him. Two memories I have from long ago: The fancy ribbons he made for Christmas presents. My mother and my aunts, i believe, started saving them for re-use. Also I wanted an 8 track stereo in high school. My father was skeptical and asked Mike what he thought at a family gathering. Mike said I should go with cassettes rather than 8 tracks. (My boyfriend had an 8 track in his van, so that’s what I got…) Anyway, Mike was correct on that issue, 8 tracks disappeared before cassettes did. I never knew about the Corvettes, but I see Kelly and her husband have followed that “tradition”.