Millage F. Small (Midge) 95, of Noank passed away Friday, April 18, at Apple Rehab in Mystic.
Millage was born in Monticello, Maine. He attended high school at Higgins Classical Institute
and upon graduation joined the United States Air Force where he eventually attained the rank of
Staff Sargeant. He was a proud veteran of the Korean War serving as an air medic on medivac
transport planes flying throughout the Pacific.
It was during the Korean War while flying out of Hickam Field in Honolulu, Hawaii that he met
his wife Bertha (Taki) Watanabe. With the end of the war Millage and Bertha moved to
California and eventually worked their way across the country, briefly living in several states
before settling in Bangor, Maine, where Millage attended Husson College on the GI Bill.
Upon graduation from Husson with a degree in accounting, Millage was hired by Seward and
Monde CPAs in New Haven Connecticut. With an expanding client base the firm sent Millage
and some other accountants to establish a satellite office in Southeastern Connecticut. Millage
left the firm to work as the assistant controller in the business office at Lawrence and Memorial
Hospital. He left Lawerence and Memorial Hospital to become the accountant Federal
Paperboard Company in Sprague, Connecticut. After working several years for the Federal
Paperboard, he left and did accounting for many small businesses/organizations and individuals
in Southeastern Connecticut. His last employment was as office manager for Griswold Textile
Print in Westerly, R.I.
During the 1980’s and ‘90s, he and Bertha ran a business restoring and selling player pianos.
They would acquire old unworking player pianos, refurbish them and sell them to individuals
and businesses in the local area. One of Midge’s favorite times over the years was bringing a
piano player to the Mystic Rotary Club’s lobster tent at the Mystic Outdoor Art Festival and
pumping out music for the crowd.
In addition to restoring player pianos, Millage enjoyed working with his hands whether it was
carpentry, adding an addition to their home and constructing furniture, or working on wooden
boats. He also enjoyed boating and fishing in Long Island Sound and Block Island.
Millage was predeceased by his wife and is survived by his two sons, Steven (Patricia) of Mystic
and Millage (Joelle) of Mystic and grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Following his wishes there are no calling hours and services are private at the convenience of the
family.