Milford “Mil” Joseph Dube, 88, passed away Thursday March 21, 2024 at St. Francis Hospital with family at his side. Mil was born on the northernmost tip of New England, in Madawaska, Maine on July 15, 1935 to Zephirin and Alma (Michaud) Dube. He was the 8th born of 13 children, including one brother who passed away before his first birthday, and grew up among 11 lively sisters. The family moved to southern Maine for a time and later to Connecticut. After graduating from Hartford High School Mil went on to earn a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Hartford. He worked as a design engineer for the JM Ney Company (now Deringer Ney) for 39 years, helping develop manufacturing processes and secure patents for products that he designed, some of which continue to be made today. For the first half of his career Mil created his designs by hand on paper; mid-career he embraced and helped lead Ney’s transition to computer aided design and manufacturing.

While working towards his engineering degree, Mil met and married the love of his life Constance “Connie” Cloutier. A devoted husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather, Mil was a steady, quiet, and kind presence—he was always there when you needed him. Content to lean back and let others lead socially, Mil brought a sweet and grounded practicality and playfulness to family and social settings, and freely shared his endearingly booming laughter when amused. He was hard working, curious, and sharp, and could be strong-willed and determined. He loved pursuing and solving challenging problems and tasks, and enjoyed patiently sharing his knowledge and skills with interested family and colleagues. He also enjoyed playing card games and sports, and could be extremely and amusingly competitive. He played on the inaugural JM Ney Nuggets basketball team, in the Windsor Locks “stone age” recreational basketball league, and in a Ney bowling league for many years. He passed on his competitive enjoyment of sports to his three daughters, and would happily toss a ball around with them for hours on end. In retirement, Mil and Connie took up cycling and had a lot of fun traveling and learning on Road Scholar bicycle tours throughout New England, the Midwest, and Canada. Ever the helpful problem solver, for many years in retirement Mil took pleasure in providing free tax assistance as part of AARP‘s volunteer Tax-Aide program. In his last few years of low energy due to ailing health, his late afternoon cribbage or gin rummy game with Connie became a highlight of his day, and the company of his playful great-grandchildren always lit him up with a childlike infectious joy. Mil and Connie’s love for each other deepened over their many years and they were delighted to be able to celebrate 65 years of marriage in 2023.

Mil was preceded in death by his brother Elden; sisters Dorella, Laurette, Priscille, Mildred, Geraldine, Gilmay, and Claudette. He is survived by his wife Connie; daughters Karen (Charles Jr) Janeczko, Ann Marie (Anthony Ipri) Dube, and Elizabeth “Liz” Dube; sisters Robertine, Marilyn, Carlene, and Dianne; grandchildren Charles (Amy) Janeczko III, Alicia (Andrew) Santanella; and great-grandchildren Lucas and Aubrey Janeczko, and Carter Santanella.

A funeral mass will take place Wednesday, March 27, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. at St. Robert Bellarmine Church, 52 South Elm Street, Windsor Locks. Burial will follow at St. Bernard Cemetery, 65 Winthrop Street, Tariffville, CT. Relatives and friends, old and new, please join the family for a banquet lunch at 12:15 p.m. at Skyline Restaurant, 106 Ella Grasso Turnpike, Windsor Locks. Please consider a memorial donation in Mil’s name to Connecticut Foodshare (ctfoodshare.org),Habitat for Humanity (habitat.org), or a charity of your choice. For online condolences, please visit www.windsorlocksfuneralhome.com