James K. Filan

FILAN James K. Filan, MD, a longtime Connecticut resident and physician, died on Wednesday, July 14, 2004, at Norwalk Hospital after a brief illness. He was 75. Dr. Filan was born in Bohola, County Mayo, Ireland, on July 28, 1928, the son of Patrick and Katherine (Judge) Filan. He received his medical degree from the National University of Ireland, Galway, in 1954. Upon graduating from medical school, he married his longtime sweetheart, Nancy Lillis, and emigrated to the United States in 1955. Dr. Filan was in private medical practice in Derby from 1956 to 1975. He was chairman of Derby's Board of Education from 1967 to 1969, and was the Democratic candidate for mayor of Derby in 1969. He served as the chairman of Derby's Democratic Town Committee from 1970 to 1974. He was president of the former Derby-Shelton Board of Trade and the Knights of St. Patrick in New Haven. He was also a founding member of the American Committee for Ulster Justice. Dr. Filan was also a member of the Board of Directors of the Galway University Foundation. Dr. Filan received a master's of science in occupational medicine at the Institute of Environmental Health (Kettering Laboratory) at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine in 1978. He was a diplomate of the American Board of Preventive Medicine, certified in occupational medicine, and served as an assistant clinical professor of environmental health at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine. He was a fellow of the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine; the American College of Preventive Medicine; the Academy of Kettering Fellows; the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland, Faculty of Occupational Medicine; and the American Academy of Family Physicians. He also served on the committee on Occupational Safety and Health of the Business Research Advisory Council, Bureau of Labor Statistics, for the United States Department of Labor. He was licensed to practice medicine in numerous states and in the Republic of Ireland, the United Kingdom and the European Union. In 1975, Dr. Filan joined The Procter and Gamble Co. in Cincinnati, and left the company in 1985 as the director of Medical Services. From 1985 to 2002, he was the corporate medical director at International Paper in Purchase, N.Y. After his retirement in 2002, he divided his time between his homes in Bonita Springs, Fla., and Westport. He was predeceased by his wife, Nancy Lillis Filan; and an infant son, Bernard Filan. He is survived by his children, Patrick J. Filan of Fairfield, Deirdre Filan Curtis of Manhasset, N.Y., James K. Filan Jr. of Newtown, and Joan Filan McBennett of Fairfield; daughters-in-law, Jessica A. Filan and Susan F. Filan; sons-in-law, Frank Curtis and Robert McBennett; eight grandchildren; two brothers, Padraic Filan and Peter Filan of Bohola, Ireland; and a sister, Therese Filan Moran, of Ballinrobe, Ireland; and numerous nieces and nephews. Calling hours will be held on Sunday, July 18, 2004, from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Harding Funeral Home, 210 Post Road East, Westport. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m. on Monday, July 19, 2004, at St. Luke Church, Long Lots Road, Westport, with interment at Assumption Cemetery, Greens Farms Road, Westport. Memorial contributions may be made to the Galway University Foundation, The Gate Lodge, University Road, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland.