Vladimir Minic, 85, born Dec. 11, 1922 in Belgrade, Serbia to Nina Voino-Oranskaya Minic and Voyslav Ivan Minic, died Sunday, Sept. 14, 2008 in Fairhope.
Mino, as he was known to friends and family, was educated in Jesuit schools until his secondary education was interrupted by World War II. During the Nazi invasion and occupation of Serbia he helped wage organized guerilla warfare against German military installations and supply lines. His resistance unit was responsible for the rescue of scores of U.S. Army Air Corps pilots and crewmen shot down by the German Luftwaffe.
Following the war he obtained a degree in chemistry at L’Ecole Superievre de Chimie de Paris. In Paris he met Margaret Callaway Putman. They married in Montreal, Canada moving to Birmingham for the birth of their daughter.
He worked at Southern Research Institute for a number of years as an organic chemist and chemical information specialist. A linguist fluent in six languages he was often called upon to serve as a translator. He was widely read in the areas of politics and history and gave numbers of lectures – both formal and informal on those subjects. Fond of camping and hiking he organized memorable excursions for family and friends.
Survivors include a daughter, Helen Greer Minic (David A.) Wilhelm of Daphne; two grandchildren Mark and Ashley Wilhelm; sister, Miriana Minic Berner of Nathanja, Israel; cousin, Dr. Michel Oransky of Rome; two nephews, John Graham (Molly) Putman IV of Kaneohe, Hawaii, and Mark Callaway Putman of Destin, Fla.; and two nieces Deirdre Putman (Michael) Dudley of Hot Springs, Ark., and Kathleen Putman Cragg (John) Miller of Nashville, Tenn.
A memorial service will be held at 11:15 a.m. Saturday, September 20 at St. James Episcopal Church in Fairhope. Burial service will follow at a later date in Birmingham.
The family requests memorial donations be made to St. James Episcopal Church or a favorite charity.
Arrangements are by Wolfe-Bayview Funeral Homes & Crematory Inc., Fairhope.
