Robert McMillan

McMillan - Robert R., 91, of Garden City, NY, passed peacefully on September 10, 2023. Beloved husband of his first wife, Jane (dec. 1995), and his second wife, Phoebe. Cherished father to Robin, Karen (Bruce) and Kenneth (Laura). Loving grandfather to Richard, Amanda, Neil, Owen, Erica, Sabrina and Jack. Devoted brother to the late Gordon and George McMillan and his loving sisters, Carol, Gail, and Jean. Patriarch of his family, Mr. McMillan was a caring uncle to many nieces and nephews. After running for the United States Senate in 1988 and winning editorial "praise" from the "The New York Times", Mr. McMillan was named by President George Bush to the Board of the Panama Canal Commission and confirmed by the United States Senate for the post on November 19, 1989. On October 27, 1993, Mr. McMillan was elected Chairman of the Commission's Board of Directors â€"the first person who was not an official of the Department of Defense to serve as Chairman. Mr. McMillan selected to serve as a member of the Board of Trustees of the American Medical Association for six yearsâ€"the first non-physician to serve on that Board. He was a member of the Board of Directors of Madison National Bank from 2007-2012 and the Board of Lumex, Inc. from 1984 to 1997. In 1987, Mr. McMillan founded the Long Island Housing Partnership (LIHP), Inc. and served as its Chairman until 2001. Upon its creation, LIHP was the first suburban coalition in the United States to unify business, banking, labor, religious organizations, and institutions of higher learning to build and facilitate the construction of affordable housing. Over fourteen years Mr. McMillan co-hosted a PBS television show, Face-Off, which was seen throughout the metropolitan New York and Albany areas. He frequently provided political commentary on MSNBC, CNN, and FOX. For twenty years Mr. McMillan authored a weekly column for the Anton Community Newspapers on Long Island and occasionallyfor Newsday, The New York Times, The Miami Heraldand Florida's Charlotte Sun. In addition, he has written two books, "Global Passage â€"Transformation of Panama and the Panama Canal" and "Columns: Marilyn Monroe to Vietnam and Iraq". Early in his career, Mr. McMillan served as an Assistant to Richard M. Nixonandas special counsel to U.S. Senator Kenneth B. Keating where he was directly involved in the Cuban Missiles Crisis. He also covered a wide range of assignments as a Corporate Officer of Avon Products, Inc. â€"including the company's Asia Pacific Profit Center. Mr. McMillan finished first in his class at Ft. Belvoir's Engineer Officers Candidate School and served in Korea with an Engineer Combat Company. First Lieutenant McMillan was awarded the BronzeStar Medal for his service in Korea. The Honorable Robert R. McMillan was acknowledgedfor his professionalism and infallible morals and values. His illustrious careerhas had a wide-spread positive impact and he will be deeply missed. A service will be held at the Garden City Community Church at 12:30pm on Thursday, September 14, with a reception to follow. In lieu of flowers, and at the request of family, please consider a donation in Mr. McMillan's honor to the Long Island Housing Partnership (lihp.org/donate.html) or the Institute for Healthy Aging and Supportive Care at Northwell Health (support.northwell.edu/healthyaging)