Co-pilot was living his dream before doomed flight
Maura Lerner
Star Tribune

Published Oct. 26, 2002 GUES26

Michael Guess grew up in St. Paul with one goal in mind: to become a pilot. Last summer, he realized his dream, becoming a co-pilot for Executive Aviation, a private charter company in Eden Prairie.

And Thursday, he excitedly told his mother he was going to fly with Sen. Paul Wellstone. "He heard Wellstone didn't like flying, so he and the pilot were going to have to try and make him comfortable," said his cousin, Irish Conley. "Too bad he didn't change his mind altogether."

Guess, 30, was killed along with Wellstone and six others in Friday's crash.

Guess, who was engaged to be married to Jan Nelson but hadn't set the date yet, died doing what he always loved, say those who knew him.

"He said flying is like a passport to your imagination," said T. Mychael Rambo, a friend and neighbor. "I don't think there was anything he thought he couldn't do."

Guess had such a single-minded passion for flying that family and friends say he seemed destined for the job.

"Ever since he was little, he talked about being a pilot," Conley said. "I used to take him to all the air shows."

Born in Benton Harbor, Mich., Guess moved to St. Paul as a child, and attended Highland Park Senior High School through his junior year. He graduated from Cretin-Derham Hall. He studied aeronautics at the University of North Dakota, earning his degree and pilot's license in 1997, Conley said.

He became a customer service employee for Pan Am International Flight Academy in Eagan. John Rosengren, former director of the school, said Guess was well-liked and worked well with students.

In 2001, Guess joined Executive Aviation as a pilot. He had logged about 650 hours flying, and was certified as a commercial pilot, his employer said. On Friday, he was flying with Capt. Richard Conry, a veteran pilot.

Company officials said they were "deeply shocked and saddened by the tragic loss of two of our pilots . . . Both were very dear to us and will be greatly missed."