Robert C. Mill

Robert C. Mill Obituary

Robert C. Mill, a resident of Westfield NJ for 70 years, passed away peacefully in his home on November 19, 2021. He was born in 1926 to Charles Daniel and Emily Roth Mill and grew up in Montclair, NJ. A World War II veteran, Bob enlisted in the Army following his high school graduation and served our country in Okinawa and Korea. At the end of the war, he was honorably discharged and enrolled at Cornell University to begin his education in Mechanical Engineering. Following his first year at Cornell, he married the love of his life Claudia Wilson, and she took a job in the Admissions office while he completed his education. He graduated from Cornell in February 1951 and immediately went to work for Esso Standard Oil Co (now ExxonMobil) where he had a distinguished career spanning 35 years.During that time, he and Claudia welcomed 4 daughters, Sharon, Cheryl, Linda and Barbara. He retired in 1986 as Chief Engineer, Exxon Chemical Worldwide. Following his retirement, Bob became a Management Consultant in Process Safety and Loss Prevention for another decade. He and Claudia traveled internationally with his work, making good friends in countries throughout the world.They had a full, happy 72 years together until her death in 2020.

Bob had a real passion for boating and fishing. He became a member of the Watchung Power Squadron where his love of boating was shared with others as a teacher of Seamanship, Piloting, and Navigation by the stars. He and Claudia took their boat 'the Phalarope" on mini-cruises with other members of the Power Squadron, where he discovered his next passion, Martha's Vineyard Island. For the next 40 years, they spent summers in Menemsha Harbor where they made more lifelong friends, and Bob fished morning and night. Ever the engineer, he kept a spreadsheet log of the fish he caught. From 1972 to 2013, he caught 2,235 striped bass weighing a total of 30,720 lbs.

Bob was a 70-year member of the Presbyterian Church in Westfield where he held numerous leadership positions. He also served on the Bayonne Hospital Board of Directors for 30 years, including a term as President. He will be greatly missed by his 4 loving daughters, 4 sons-in-law, 9 grandchildren, 9 great-grandchildren and many dear friends. His private burial service was held according to his wishes on Monday, November 22 at Mt. Hebron Cemetery, Montclair NJ. Memorials may be made in his memory to The Presbyterian Church in Westfield or St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.