James R. Mihaloew

James Robert Mihaloew met the omega of his life Sunday, September 20, 2026 and passed into eternity to meet his beloved wife of 57 years, Joellyn Rae, and begin a new journey together again. Jim, as he was known to all, but to his wife as James, was born to Michael and Rose Mihaloew as an identical twin in Cleveland on November 20, 1932, at the old City Hospital under somewhat unusual circumstances. After living in various locations on the West Side of Cleveland the family moved to Ambridge, Pennsylvania, their original homestead, in 1936 where Jim and his brother grew in culture of ethnic diversity for the next 18 years, their found of knowledge and culture. Jim graduated from Ambridge High School, tenth in his class of 365, in 1950, entered Edinboro University for his freshman year at college, and transferred to University of Pittsburgh where he graduated in 1954 with a degree in aeronautical engineering, his lifelong chosen profession, and a commission in the USAF. After a short stint at Allison Division of General Motors he reported for active duty in the U.S. Air Force and was assigned as a maintenance officer at Laon Air Base, France. Prior to leaving he married his pretty wife, Joellyn Rae and she soon joined him to live there. During that time they bore a daughter, Cynthia Robin, who was confirmed in the ancient Cathedral of Laon and traveled the continent extensively learning the culture and the life of the old world. Upon returning to the United States, Jo and Jim lived for a short while in Indianapolis, Indiana, where Jim worked for Allison and then moved to Cleveland in 1957 to take a research position with the then NACA Lewis Research Center where he worked for the next 32 years. They settled in Strongsville in 1958 (a marker on the Commons commemorates that event) and lived there to the end of their lives. During his time in Strongsville, Jim attended Case Institute of Technology, was a member of the Strongsville Historical Society for ten years where he served on the board and as president and treasurer, and Jim worked for Strongsville planning group, cub scouting leadership, library committee, historical society, and he even ran for city council. Jim did technical work for NACA/NASA: variable geometry exhaust nozzle, lunar landing, nuclear rockets, propulsion dynamics and controls, vertical takeoff and landing vehicles, propulsion simulation, early proponent of integrated flight-propulsion control. He was a certified wine educator, certified wine judge, and an international wine judge. He was well read in city planning, non-profit law, and organization. He, like his wife, much to the dismay of their sons, was an enthusiastic fan of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Pirates, book collector with an extensive wine library, wine collector acquiring over 375 cases of rare wine. Jim was a gourmet cook with a passion for classic Italian and country Ruysn Cuisines. Left to live in Jim's memory are his children, Robin (Cynthia) Graham (John) of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Scott (Ann) of Seven Hills, Eric of Strongsville, and Hugh (Tina), of Cuyahoga Falls; their grandchildren, Susan (Brandon) of Lakewood, Sara (Molly) of Columbus, Joseph of Virginia, and Daniel of Cuyahoga Falls; his great-grandchildren, Julia of Virigina, Myla and Ivan of Columbus; and his nieces, Christine and Andreya. Jim was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Joellyn Rae Cochenour; his parents, Michael and Rose Mihaloew of Ambridge, Pennsylvania; his twin brother, John of Ambridge, Pennsylvania, and his younger brother, Donald of Washington state. A visitation will be held Monday, September 28, 2026, from 4 to 8 p.m. in Sunset Chapel, 6245 Columbia Rd., North Olmsted, Ohio. A funeral service will be held Tuesday, September 29, 2026, at 10 a.m. in Sunset Chapel. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you please donate to the Cleveland Clinic Foundation.