William C. (Bill) Mill of Vineyard Haven, predeceased by his beloved wife Muriel (Sue), died Oct. 31 at the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital surrounded by his family. Thanks are due to Father Nagle and the staff of Martha’s Vineyard Hospital for the comfort they provided him.

A resident of the Island for the last 17 years, he greatly enjoyed his retirement in Vineyard Haven and membership in the Scottish Society, and gave back by serving on the Martha’s Vineyard Airport Commission, among other volunteer positions.

He was a U.S. Army veteran (2nd Lieutenant, 82nd Airborne), paratrooper and weapons instructor, race car builder and driver, airplane pilot, accomplished storyteller and practical joker, and loving father of six.

He began his working career as a news reporter, bridging the historical transition from radio to black and white video to the invention of color television. Serving simultaneously as his own cameraman, photographer, reporter, and anchor on evening broadcasts, he became a fixture on the Connecticut news scene from Channel 30 to Channel 3 (WTIC, later WFSB). Bill was the only Connecticut reporter to be requested by Malcolm X for an exclusive interview. He later served Governor Ella Grasso, becoming her director of communications for several state agencies. Governors Meskill and O’Neill, Senator Abraham Ribicoff, and numerous other state and national politicians considered him a personal friend.

A lifelong train enthusiast who built his own extraordinarily detailed model railroads, he volunteered his editorial services for many years to Railroadiana Express magazine and earned a national reputation as an authority on all aspects of the field, particularly silver and china.

He leaves behind six children, Susan and Robert Mill of Vineyard Haven, William Mill and his wife Cheryl of Middletown, Conn., Robin Stufano and her husband Vincent of Chesterfield, Va., Deborah Mill of Old Saybrook, Conn., and Donald Mill and his wife Wendy of Old Saybrook, Conn., along with eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren who cherish the memories of every moment he shared with them. He also sadly leaves a dog Duncan, who is likewise heartbroken.