Clifford D. Thatcher

Clifford Donald Thatcher, 83, a longtime resident of Millis, died Thursday morning, June 17, 2010, at Tufts Medical Center, after a long illness. Born in Newton, on Sept. 26, 1926, he was a son of the late Clifford T. and Josephine (McDonald) Thatcher. Raised in Albany, N.Y., Milford and Millis, he was a 1944 graduate of Millis High School. He entered the Army Air Corps and served in the Philippines during World War II. Cliff earned a bachelors degree at Harvard University, while a member of the ROTC, and then served with the Air Force during the Korean War. Cliff was employed as a marketing executive with a succession of companies during his career. He worked with Carlings, Slade, Pepsico, Ballantines, Kirin, and Saint Pauli Girl prior to accepting a position with International Executive Service Corp. With the latter position, he and his wife traveled extensively throughout the world from their Millis home. A member of the Founders and Patriots of America and the Massachusetts Mayflower Society, Cliff also was a member of the governors mounted ceremonial escort in the National Lancers. He had served as a Millis selectman and was a member of the Harvard Club and the Millis American Legion Post 208. He also enjoyed acting with the St. Thomas Players, gardening, reading and history. He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Marcia Lee (Shields) Thatcher; two daughters, Kathleen Ann Griffin-Brooks and her husband, Roger, of No. Brookfield, and Marcia Lee Thatcher of Dracut; two sons, Richard E. Thatcher and his wife, Irma,of Arcadia, Calif., and Steven A. Thatcher and his wife, Louise Boo, of Mattapoisett; a sister, Joan Hemmer of Point Pleasant, N.J.; a brother, Bernie Thatcher of Millis; eight grandchildren; and one great-grandchild. He was predeceased by a son, Clifford J. Jim Thatcher; a great-grandson, Shane A. Thatcher; a brother, Edward Thatcher; and a sister, Jean Henthorne. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated Wednesday, June 23, at 10 a.m., at Saint Thomas the Apostle Church, 82 Exchange St., Millis. Burial with military honors will follow in Prospect Hill Cemetery. Visiting hours are Tuesday, June 22, from 4 to 8 p.m., at the Roberts-Mitchell Funeral Home, 90 Curve St., Millis. If desired, donations may be made in Cliffs memory to the U.S. fund for UNICEF, Revenue Processing, 125 Maiden Lane, New York, NY 10038. For guest book, obituary and additional information, see www.robertsmitchell.com.