Oct. 20, 2003
 Charles
E.F. Millard, a longtime Holy Cross Trustee, former chairman
of the Board and generous benefactor to the College, died
Oct. 20, 2003, at his home in Old Saybrook, Conn., at 71.
Mr. Millard, who had been a member of the Board of Trustees
for 27 years, from 1973–2000, served as the chairman
from 1977 through 1982; he had been a member of its executive
committee for 17 years. During his tenure, Mr. Millard had
been a member of two presidential search committees; a national
chairman of the Holy Cross Fund; and a national and honorary
chair of two campaigns. He was a member of the 1843 Society,
a career planning counselor and a lifetime benefactor of
the President’s Council; he also served as an alumni
board director, from 1971–74 and as a member of the
Alumni Board Senate, from 1991–2003.
In May 1993, the Millard Art Center on campus was dedicated
to the memory of Mr. Millard’s brother, the late Rev.
Daniel F.M. ’47. His brother, James C.B. Jr., had also
attended Holy Cross, graduating in 1942.
In 1999, Mr. Millard received an honorary degree from Holy
Cross; in 2003, the General Alumni Association honored him
with its In Hoc Signo Award, in recognition of his years
of dedication and service to the College.
Mr. Millard had been associated for many years with the Coca
Cola Bottling Co. of New York, serving as president, chief
executive officer and chairman. Joining the company in 1967,
he expanded sales from $60 million to over $500 million.
At the start of his career, he had worked in the advertising
field, becoming the youngest vice president in the history
of the Benton & Bowles Agency. Mr. Millard had been a
member of the board of governors of the National Soft Drink
Association; he also served as chairman of the board of Lance
Inc. and director of the First National Bank of New Jersey
and the Connecticut Bank & Trust Company. In addition,
Mr. Millard had been president of the New York Urban League.
He is survived by his wife, Marylou; three sons, Charles
E.F. Jr. ’79 Christropher M. ’82; and Gregory
J. ’93; five daughters, Marylou M. Ferrara ’77,
Maureen P. ’83, Margaret M. McGrath ’85, Suzanne
Millard Stanners ’88 and Kathleen Millard Rehm ’89;
sons-in-law, Arthur J. Ferrara ’75, Christopher J.
McGrath ’84 and Jack D. Rehm Jr. ’88; and 24
grandchildren.
Holy Cross
president, Rev. Michael C. McFarland, S.J., shares the following
remembrance of Charles E.F. Millard: Charlie
Millard’s impact on Holy Cross cannot be underestimated.
Though I knew Charlie only in the last years of his life,
it was obvious from our first meeting what a significant
and enduring figure he was. Charlie’s love for his
alma mater and his belief in our Catholic, Jesuit mission
were both passionate and profound. Awarded an honorary degree
from the College in 1999, Charlie was a former chair of the
Board of Trustees; national and honorary chair of two campaigns;
a national chair of the Holy Cross Fund; chair of the New
York Club; GAA president; and a charter member of the President’s
Council. Charlie played virtually every volunteer role possible
at Holy Cross.
Even as a student he invested himself in the fortunes and
future of the College. As a young alumnus, forging what would
be a tremendously successful career, he very willingly gave
of his time and his resources to Holy Cross. He became a
distinguished business leader, a parent of eight Crusaders,
a generous benefactor and a willing ambassador for the College,
working tirelessly for the benefit of our students, while
helping to secure the future of Holy Cross. Among his and
Marylou’s many generous and meaningful gifts to Holy
Cross—in addition to their children—are the William
H. Jenks ’54 Chair in Contemporary American Letters;
the Millard Art Center, given in memory of his brother, Rev.
Daniel Millard ’47; and the LaBran-Millard Fund to
underwrite participation in the Spiritual Exercises.
A man of deep faith, Charlie challenged and encouraged us
at all times and on every front to realize our promise as
the nation’s pre-eminent Jesuit, Catholic college and
to claim our place among the nation’s top liberal arts
colleges. His 2003 In Hoc Signo citation captures perfectly
the spirit of Charlie’s contributions to his beloved
alma mater. It says that he served Holy Cross with “verve
and honor.” A generous benefactor to our students and
faculty, and a relentless steward of our potential, Charlie
also was a great and compassionate friend to his classmates
from the Class of 1954, who will deeply miss him when they
return to campus for their 50th reunion.
Rev. John E. Brooks, S.J., Holy Cross president emeritus,
offers the following tribute upon the death of Mr. Millard:
It has been said that “A leader knows what’s
best to do; a manager knows merely how best to do it.” In
my experience, Charlie Millard was an authentic leader. He
possessed a vision of what his three great loves in life—his
family, his church and his college alma mater—were
expected to be. And driven by an immense love of all three
entities, he vigorously pursued his vision until an incapacitating
illness took his life. And while not everyone agreed always
with all that Charlie sought to implement, there’s
not a person in the world today who could legitimately question
his sincerity, commitment to and love for his Church, his
family and the College of the Holy Cross. With Charlie’s
death we have all lost a friend to whom we can now appeal
only in prayer. May his soul rest in the presence of the
loving Lord whom he adored.
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