Nikita “Nips” Offenberg, 91, who was among the earlier corporate pilots and had a career that spanned nearly four decades, died on April 28 in St. Peterburg, Florida. Born May 18, 1929, in New York City to parents Anastasia (Hartwig-Gluhareff) and Sergei Offenberg, he was the stepson of Michael Gluhareff, one of the key Russian aeronautical engineers who worked with Igor Sikorsky in the development of flying boats and rotorcraft.

Learning to fly at Bridgeport Flying Service in Stratford, Connecticut, in 1947, Offenberg earned his commercial certificate in 1951 and became a pilot flying an L-18 Lockheed Lodestar for Kollsman Instrument. He became an FAA flight instructor and examiner and in 1956 joined the US Industries corporate flight department in White Plains, New York. There, he obtained an airline transport pilot certificate and became type rated on the Douglas DC-3 and Convair 440. He flew for Radio Corp. of America (RCA) and ultimately joined Great Lakes Carbon (GLC) in 1960.

Offenberg flew for GLC for 25 years, retiring in 1985 as chief pilot. Based at Sikorsky Memorial Airport, he flew a Convair-580 and Lockheed JetStar all over the world.

He is survived by his wife of 74 years, Lillian, and children Sandra Donaldson (Dennis), Laura Offenberg Dague (Arthur), and Glenn Offenberg. A memorial service is planned for June 20 in Stratford.