Wilfrid Jacques Millet

02/14/2003

Wilfrid Jacques Millet, 90, of 81 Taconic Ave., died Friday, Feb. 14, at Fairview Hospital on his 56th wedding anniversary. A well-known local dentist, he practiced up until his death. Born in Pittsfield on June 1, 1912, son of Dr. Wilfrid A. Millet, a longtime Pittsfield obstetrician, and Helene Louise Roy Millet, he attended schools in Pittsfield. He received his bachelor of science degree from the University of Vermont in 1934, and, in 1945, his doctor of dental surgery degree from Temple University in Philadelphia, where he was grand master of Psi Omega fraternity and a member of the John Kolmer Honorary Medical Society. An Army veteran of World War II, he served as a first lieutentant and was stationed at Jefferson Barracks in St. Louis, then was promoted to captain and sent to Lawson Hospital in Atlanta, where he assisted military personnel who had lost eyes in the war. He also practiced dentistry on U.S. troops at St. Elizabeth's Hospital in Frankfurt, Germany. After his service, Dr. Millet set up his dental practice in Main Street's Baldwin Block, then 10 years later moved to a restored Victorian house on Elm Street, where he continued to practice for nearly five decades. In May 1995, the Massachusetts Dental Society recognized him for 50 years of "distinguished service." He also was a member of the American Dental Association; Knights of Columbus Mount Everett Council 513 and 4th-degree of the Bishop Conaty Assembly; and the Rotary Club, where he served as president from 1966 to 1967 and received its Paul Harris Award, the club's highest honor for service. He was a charter and 40-year member of the Mahaiwe Associates investment club. He and his wife, the former Anne Chohrek, enjoyed restoring historic buildings, starting in 1956 with the Victorian house where he had his dental practice. The building was featured in a photographic exhibit several years ago on successful before-and-after conversions held at the Daniel Chester French studio Chesterwood. His most ambitious project was the Greek Revival mansion opposite Searles Castle, along with two Victorian houses behind it, which he transformed into nine apartments known as Bryant Court. He served on the Board of Health and was a member of the courtesy staff at Fairview Hospital. He was a communicant of St. Peter's Church. He enjoyed oil painting, landscaping and gardening, and singing in a number of local choirs and glee clubs throughout high school, college and church. He and his wife were married Feb. 14, 1947, in Sts. Peter and Paul Church in Kronberg, Germany. Besides his wife, he leaves a daughter, Anne Louise Wilson of Papillion, Neb., and a sister, Lorraine Tornabene of Hingham and Eleuthera, Bahamas. FUNERAL NOTICE -- Funeral services for Wilfrid Millet, who died Friday, Feb. 14, 2003, will be Thursday, Feb. 20, at 9 from BIRCHES-ROY FUNERAL HOME, to be followed by a Liturgy of Christian Burial in St. Peter's Church at 10, with the Rev. Daniel Papineau officiating. Burial will follow in St. Peter's Cemetery. The family will receive friends Wednesday from 4 to 7 at the funeral home. Expressions of sympathy in his memory may be made to the Great Barrington Rotary Club Student Assistance Fund in care of the funeral home, 33 South St., Great Barrington, MA 01230. Other survivors include many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by four sisters, Helene and Louise Millet, Marguerite Lawler, and Jeanne Ritter, and a brother, Charles Millet.

Obituaries

Celebrating Lives & Legacies

Wilfrid Jacques Millet

Memorials