Obituary of Richard P. Mills

Clifton Park: Richard P. Mills died unexpectedly on November 1, 2017. Richard was born in 1944 in Paris, IL, the oldest child of Carolyn Sprague Mills and the late Paul A. Mills. He grew up in Indiana, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. Richard graduated from Middlebury College in Vermont in 1966. He earned a Masters Degree from Columbia University in 1967, a MBA from Columbia Business School in 1975 and a Doctor of Education Degree from Columbia Teacher’s College in 1977. Richard taught at the Dalton School in New York City and in 1971 joined with a group of teachers to found the Elizabeth Seeger School. In 1975 he went to work for the New Jersey Education Department in Trenton. In 1984 he became Education Aide to Governor Thomas Kean. He was chosen as the Commission of Education for the State of Vermont and served there until 1995 when he became Commissioner of Education for New York State. Richard retired in 2009. In addition to his mother, Richard is survived by his wife, Judith Sheldon Mills whom he married in 1968. Also, he is survived by three sisters and their husbands: Janet and William Raycraft of Ft. Pierce, FL, Marsha and Patrick Ahearn of Wellesley Hills, MA and Nancy and Kenneth Sparks of Cumberland, IN and two nieces and five nephews. He is also survived by his sister-in-law, Catherine Sandoz of McHenry, IL Richard loved the outdoors especially hiking, camping and canoeing in the Adirondacks. He was a faithful member of Christ Community Reformed Church of Clifton Park and will be missed by his Church Family. Memorial Contributions may be made to a charity of your choice. Memorial Service will be held at Christ Community Reformed Church at 1010 Route 146, Clifton Park on Saturday, November 18th at 11:00 am followed by reception. Please visit www.alexanderfh.net for online guest book and condolences.