John William Milan, Sr.

John William Milan, Sr., 94, went home to the Lord on November 16, 2024 after a period of declining health while at Hanover Hill, Manchester, New Hampshire. John’s life was blessed with his strong faith, love of family, and loyalty and support for countless friends, colleagues and those in need.

John was born in Waltham, Massachusetts on July 27, 1930 to Frederick A. and Lucy (Morton) Milan. 

After his high school graduation in 1948, he joined the U.S. Navy, serving for four years. John was very proud of his military service, and he enjoyed talking about his experiences as a code technician aboard ship. He recently shared the story of the episode when the ship was essentially rolling over, but he was securely strapped into his station, and he actually kept coding throughout the night while tipped upside down. 

Upon discharge from the Navy, John began his many years of service with New England Telephone. His initial duties were as a lineman, and he of course excelled. With his work ethic and innate leadership skills, he rose through the ranks to Supervisor, Manager, District Manager, and then Division Manager, excelling in results and, most importantly to John, as a beloved leader. When senior management of NYNEX (now Verizon) was asked by the City of Boston who in ‘the company’ would be qualified to lead the Central Artery Project, commonly known as “The Big Dig,” there was no question that John Milan would lead the effort. John’s technical and managerial skills were exhibited in leading the expansive project. He was called upon to brief senior officials of ‘the company,’ the Big Dig project, and Massachusetts government officials. It was widely known that the success of the Big Dig was attributed to John Milan’s leadership.

John always said he was so fortunate early in his professional life to have met his beloved wife, Mary Clare Hickey, who had been hired as a teacher in his hometown. John liked to tell people that he was in her sixth grade, third row, fifth seat. They were married on February 19, 1955, and were blessed with three children, Mary Elizabeth (Beth) and twins Kathleen and John Jr. (Jack). The family eventually settled in Amherst, New Hampshire, where the Milan family quickly became part of the community, and enjoyed New Hampshire’s summer and winter activities.

A great test of faith for John and Mary Clare was the murder of daughter Kathleen in 1992 in Malden, Massachusetts, which remains in a cold case file as first her mother in 2016, and now her father, have passed without resolve. Grief again descended upon them with son Jack’s death from cancer in 2008. 

John’s ability to soldier on in life, enjoy his grandchildren, volunteer at St. Patrick’s Church, provide many years of service to SHARE Outreach, maintain life-long friendships, and become the ‘mayor” of his floor at Hanover Hill, providing friendship, encouragement and support to residents and staff, is a testament to his values and humanity.

John was predeceased in 2016 by his beloved wife, Mary Clare. He is survived by his daughter Mary Elizabeth (Beth) Sexton and husband Michael, grandchildren Charles Edward Crawford (John would tell you he is a recent Ph.D. recipient), wife Kati and sons Micah and Tristan; Mary Byrne, husband Larry and children Matthew and Kathleen; Christina Bragdon, husband Alfie and children Ebony, Lexz and Braedon; Christopher Crawford; daughter-in-law Sharon Milan Snow and children John William Milan, III, his daughter, Ezra, and Margaret Ruth Milan.

Calling hours will be held on Thursday, November 21st from 4:00-7:00pm in the Smith & Heald Funeral Home, 63 Elm Street, Milford, NH. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, November 22nd at 11:00am in Saint Patrick’s Church, 34 Amherst Street, Milford, NH. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to the Kathleen Milan Scholarship Fund, Bishop Guertin High School, 194 Lund Road, Nashua, NH 03060. Arrangements are in the care of Smith & Heald Funeral Home.