James Mills ’45

Jim, our esteemed class president emeritus, died peacefully at his home in Vermont July 17, 2016.

Jim entered Princeton from Montclair (N.J.) High School and joined Cottage Club. His college years were interrupted for service in the Army’s 10th Mountain Division, with which he served in combat in Italy, was wounded, and received a Bronze Star along with the Purple Heart.

Returning to Princeton, he earned a degree from the School of Public and International Affairs in 1947 and headed to Yale Law School, from which he graduated in 1950. In 1956, Jim joined Sperry and Hutchinson as assistant general counsel and later became chairman and CEO of Sperry and Hutchinson. In 1981, he became president and CEO of The Conference Board, an international business organization, from which he retired in 1988.

In his retirement, he devoted much time to many nonprofit organizations in the Montclair area. Jim was class president when he organized our 50th reunion, a memorable occasion for all who were able to attend.

Jim is survived by his wife, Frances “Fritzi” Keller; daughters Elizabeth Durkee, Hilary Lambert, Frances Wonnell ’80, and Margaret Kaplan; and 10 grandchildren.

On behalf of the class, we express our deep sympathy to Fritzi and the family.