Harold James "Hal" Millbauer Jr.

1936 - 2022

Mystic - Harold James Millbauer Jr., 85, of Mystic died peacefully at home April 13, after a period of ill health and ultimately kidney failure. He was a devoted family man who will be sorely missed by Beverly, his wife of 51 years; their children, David of East Hampton (fiancée Marissa), Daniel of Peterborough, N.H. (Sarah) and Karin of Sprague (Ronald); his siblings, Kenneth (Evelyn), Patricia Roberto, and Gerald (Arlene); and cousins, nieces, nephews; grandchildren, Dawson, Mya, Megan, Tyler, and Braydon; step-grandchildren, Jessica, Matthew, and Jaccob; and step-great-grandchildren, Madison and Sophie. His brother Raymond predeceased him in 2009.

Harold was born in Bridgeport Dec. 1, 1936, the first child of the late Harold James Millbauer Sr. and Leontine (Guimond) Millbauer. He loved to tell stories of his childhood. As a boy, he was nicknamed "Whitey" for his light blond crewcut. He was a neighborhood checkers champ. One of his first jobs was manually setting up duckpins at a bowling alley in Fairfield, where the family lived.

Hal, as he was known the rest of his life, graduated Fairfield Preparatory School and Fairfield University. His college career was interrupted by an 18-month stay in a sanitarium to beat tuberculosis, but he did return to school and earned a bachelor's degree in business from Fairfield University.

Hal worked briefly for Sikorsky Aircraft and Norden Laboratories. He worked for 23 years in Monsanto Company's plastics division, where he made many good friends and was active in the company bowling and golf leagues.

He married Beverly Jean Getina in October 1970. The family moved to Mystic when Monsanto transferred Hal from Deep River to Stonington.

A fan of sports and sports statistics all his life, Hal's favorite teams were the New York Yankees, New York Giants and University of Connecticut Huskies (women's basketball). He enjoyed golfing with his son David and following the high school sports careers of all three of his children. He liked playing cards, notably cribbage and hearts. Although he always inspected restaurant menus closely, he usually ordered a Reuben sandwich.

Hal's Catholic faith was very important to him. He and wife Bev have been dedicated members of Saint Mary, Mother of the Redeemer Church in Groton for more than 50 years.

When Monsanto began to dissolve in the early 1990s, Hal was laid off and enrolled at Ridley-Lowell Business and Technical School in New London for retraining. After graduation he was invited to teach business accounting there, which he did for ten years. After that, in his 70s, he made deliveries for Fort Hill Pharmacy of Groton for another ten years.

In retirement, Hal watched sports and classic movies, and read widely-he kept a list of everything he read and averaged 40 to 50 books per year.

He was a good listener and dispenser of advice, and he enjoyed hearing and telling a good corny joke.

His family will receive relatives and friends from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m. Friday, April 22, and from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Saturday, April 23, at the Mystic Funeral Home on Route 1 in Mystic. Following the calling hour on Saturday, a funeral cortege will leave the funeral home at 10:30 a.m. for an 11 a.m. Mass at St. Mary Mother of the Redeemer Church in Groton. Burial will be held privately following his Mass.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests making a donation in Hal's memory to your favorite charity or Saint Mary parish.