John E. Mills, lifelong Bristol resident and musician, teacher, arranger, composer; beloved husband, father, grandfather, died Oct. 20, at the age of 84. John was the oldest child of Francis and Mary Mills of Bristol.
After graduating from Bristol High School, John attended the Hartt School of Music at the University of Hartford, where he earned his BMEd, MMEd, and 6th year. At Hartt, he met his wife of 62 years, Barbara (Hudobenko) Mills, and also made treasured lifelong friendships.
John was a music educator in various Connecticut towns and served as Band Director at Newington High School for over 30 years. He inspired many students to love music and to become music educators. He was an honored member and former president of the Phi Beta Mu fraternity and was also a member of the Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia fraternity.
John was an accomplished professional saxophonist and clarinetist who played classical and jazz music at the Bushnell, Hartford Civic Center, and innumerable other New England venues. He served as Choir Director of St. Gregory the Great for 20 years and was a member of St. Matthew Church. He enjoyed cooking and traveling and was an avid fan of the New York Yankees and UConn basketball teams.
John was a loving husband, father, and grandfather who adored his family and friends and lived with integrity and faith. His memory will be cherished by his wife Barbara, his daughters: Jean Kelley of Canton, Kathy Mills and partner John Turner of NYC, Jennifer Mills and partner Joseph Boulanger of Boston, and Alyssa Mills and husband Boris Krivitsky of Charlotte, grandsons: Thomas Kelley of NYC, Ben Kelley of Boston, and Louis Krivitsky of Charlotte, as well as siblings: Barbara Terry (deceased), formerly of Southington, David Mills of Bristol, Patty Welch of Woodstock, Lori Buchas of Harwinton, and Susan Martin of Farmington, and their families.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, Oct. 27, at 10 a.m. at St. Matthew Church, 120 Church Ave., Bristol. Entombment will follow in St. Joseph Cemetery, Bristol.
Relatives and friends may call at Funk Funeral Home, 35 Bellevue Ave., Bristol, on Thursday between 4 and 8 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in John’s memory to the John Mills Memorial Jazz Scholarship Fund at https://www.gofundme.com/f/john-mills-jazz-scholarship or by check to School Counseling Office, Newington High School, 605 Willard Ave., Newington, CT 06111 (Payable to School Counseling Office; enter “J Mills Scholarship” in the memo). Please visit John’s memorial website at www.FunkFuneralHome.com/tributes/John-Mills.
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