John M. Mills, 81, Loved Sailing, Summers on Island

A lifetime summer resident of Vineyard Haven, John Marshall Mills, known as Joey to his friends and Bahpu to his grandchildren, died peacefully in his home on the Island on August 13. He was 81. He first came to the Vineyard as a baby, missing only one summer, during World War II.

John was born in Albany, N.Y., on Sept. 14, 1924, to Howard and Marie Mills. He grew up in Scarsdale, where he was captain of the high school football team and also met his future bride, Nancy Elise Demarest. He attended Yale University, taking time off from college to join the Naval Air Corp, where he trained as a flyer. He and Nancy married in July 1946. After graduating from college they moved to Hingham, where he worked for Bethlehem Steel for several years. He then went to work for his father's company, Gravymaster Inc. and Dryden and Palmer, where he enjoyed the rest of his career.

John and Nancy lived in Darien, Conn., for 40 years. In 1990 the family business was moved from Long Island City to Branford, Conn. Joe and Nancy began to retire and became residents of Ocean Reef and the Vineyard.

John loved the Vineyard and he loved sailing, spending countless happy hours on the water. He was commodore of the Vineyard Haven Yacht Club and a member of the New York Yacht Club, Corinthians and Off Soundings. He and Nancy sailed from Nova Scotia to the Exumas, making numerous trips up and down the inland waterway, and loved cruising in Maine. They often shared those adventures with family and friends. The family home in Vineyard Haven is filled with photos and memories of the many good years on the Island.

Joey's greatest love was his family. He and Nancy had four children, Pam Besse of Guilford, Conn., Tina Mills currently of Europe, John Mills of Guilford and Penny Eklof of Santa Cruz, Calif. He is also survived by three grandchildren, Seth and Whitney Besse and Lilli Eklof.

Private family services will be held at Buoy B at dawn on Friday, followed by interment at the graveyard at the head of Grove avenue. A celebration of Joe's life for all friends and family will be held at the Mills home at the end of Grove avenue in Vineyard Haven on Sunday, August 20, at 3 p.m.