Bradford Mills ’48

Brad was born Dec. 16, 1926, in New York City. He died March 18, 2021, at home in New Hope, Pa. He was 94. He was buried with military honors at Washington Crossing National Cemetery in Newtown, Pa. 

After graduating from Millbrook School and Navy service, he came to Princeton and joined Cottage Club, was on the ski team, and graduated cum laude in economics. He was assistant director of the overseas territories division for the Marshall Plan in Paris, earned a degree from Oxford University, and from 1952 to 1956 did additional government service in naval intelligence and the CIA. 

Later, in a break from his career as an investment banker, he was the first head of the Overseas Private Investment Corp., appointed by President Richard Nixon. As an investment-banking executive, he was a founder-leader in numerous financial enterprises, heading his own firms and as a principal in others. He also was an active contributor to and leader in various philanthropic and educational enterprises, especially as a major supporter and trustee of Millbrook School. He was an avid tennis player, hunter, fisherman, and world traveler. 

Brad was married three times. He and his first wife, Elizabeth, were parents of two daughters and two sons. His second marriage to Cheryl was the highlight of our ’48 Princeton class reunion. The family homes were near Princeton; then in Lambertville, N.J.; and then at the family estate in New Hope. 

Brad’s survivors include his wife, Pammie; daughters Elizabeth Hardie and Barbara Henagan ’81; sons Brad and Ross; 10 grandchildren, including Morgan ’21; and two great-grandchildren.