Thomas P. Mills, husband to his wife Arlene for more than fifty years, lost his battle with cancer Nov. 15 at their Port St. Lucie, Fla., home with his wife at his side.

He had been in home care provided by Treasure Coast Hospice for a short period of time.

His life was all about music, teaching both privately and in the public school systems on the Vineyard, in Walpole and in Jacksonville, Fla. His career as a church organist and choir director spanned more than five decades.

What brought him to the Vineyard in 1961 was his first position teaching music as the instrumental teacher for the whole school system. He later became the sole music teacher specifically for the high school where he founded the Minnesingers in 1967. Forty years later, this group of musicians continues to share its musical gifts both nationally and abroad.

He served as interim organist for the First Baptist Church in Vineyard Haven, eventually becoming the organist and choir director for Grace Episcopal Church, again in Vineyard Haven. Also during the 1960s, he directed the Martha’s Vineyard Chorus and the Vineyard Sinfonietta.

After earning his master’s degree in 1971, he became a summer resident of the Vineyard, moving his family to Walpole where he was music director for the school system until he and Arlene moved to Jacksonville, Fla., in 1981. There again he took a high school teaching position and was organist and choir director for Avondale Methodist.

Taking the position as the music director for Christ by the Sea in Vero Beach, Fla., in 1993, he got involved in establishing the Treasure Coast Chapter of the American Guild of Organists, and 8 Voices of Song, a vocal group in affiliation with the Vero Beach Opera Guild. In Palm City, Fla., he helped create the Academy of the Performing Arts, which was located at Immanuel Lutheran Church.

A diverse composer, he had numerous commissions during his career. Complementing his church music, his writing included children’s musicals, band and choral works and even a special composition to help Vineyard Haven celebrate its tricentennial.

He had a love for gardening which helped him create beautiful landscapes everywhere he lived. His pride and joy was his last, a tropical garden with more than 150 species of different plants. He also loved woodworking, building furniture, cabinets and decorative art, and even three houses.

Tom Mills grew up in Rensselaer, N.Y., and was graduated from New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, receiving bachelor’s and master’s degrees in choral and orchestral conducting. He also received a bachelor’s degree in music education degree from Framingham State University.

Survivors include his son Steve Mills, daughter Sue Mills-Fliss and mother in law May Monington.