Obituary of Charles C. MacMillan

Dr. Charles Campbell MacMillan of Rothesay, N.B., husband of Sheila (Pratt) MacMillan, passed away peacefully with family by his side on July 27, 2004 at the Saint John Regional Hospital in his 75th year. Born July 29, 1929 in Fredericton, N.B., he was a son of the late Dr. Charles William and Helen Jessie (Campbell) MacMillan. Besides his wife of 38 years, Sheila, he is survived by his five daughters: Heather MacMillan and husband Michael Parrish (Vancouver), Wendy Papadopoulos and husband Dimitri (Saint John), Julie Devlin and husband Bruce (Fredericton), Emily English and husband Chris (Fredericton), and Sarah MacMillan (Rothesay); grandchildren Beatrice Devlin (Fredericton), Mary and Charlie Papadopoulos (Saint John), and Norah English (Fredericton); brother, Dr. Duncan MacMillan and his wife Norma of Louisville, Kentucky; several nieces and nephews. Besides his parents, he was predeceased by his sister Marion Holton. Dr. MacMillan obtained his medical degree from McGill University in 1954. His residency in ophthalmology took place at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Montreal between 1959 and 1962. In 1963 Dr. MacMillan moved from Montreal to Saint John where he began his ophthalmology practice. He was on the active staff at the Saint John General, later the Saint John Regional, until 1994 and remained a consulting staff member until June 2004. He was also on the active staff of the St. Joseph's and Lancaster DVA hospitals. Dr. MacMillan served a term as President of the St. Joseph's Medical Staff in 1966 and as President of the Lancaster DVA Medical Staff in 1968. In 1994 he was made a Life Member of both the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada and the Canadian Ophthalmological Society. After 42 years of a fulfilling ophthalmology practice, he retired in June 2004. Dr. MacMillan served in the RCAF, receiving his pilot's wings in 1951. He also served as physician and pilot of the #401 Westmount Fighter Squadron (Reserves) from 1954-1958. In 1994 he received a Special Services Medal from the National Department of Defense for the services he provided in support of NATO. An avid tennis player, Dr. MacMillan was the Singles Tennis Champion at McGill University in 1953; the New Brunswick Open Tennis Singles Champion in 1966; and was President of the Rothesay Tennis Club in 1972. Charlie continued his active tennis game at the Rothesay Tennis Club until recently, playing with his daughters and his tennis buddies. He was always ready and willing for a game with anyone who wanted to play. On any given summer day, Dad could be found at his family's farm on the Long Reach, mowing acres of lawn, star-gazing with his telescope, fixing something in the tool shed, or blazing trails in the backwoods on the ATV. To his family, Dad will always be part of the Long Reach. Resting at Brenan's Select Community Funeral Home, 111 Paradise Row, Saint John, N.B. (506-634-7424), with visiting on Thursday, July 29 and Friday, July 30, 2004 from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. Funeral service will be held on Saturday, July 31, 2004 at 2:00 p.m. at the Long Reach United Church. Interment will take place in the adjoining cemetery. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to the Canadian Cancer Society, Heart and Stroke Foundation of New Brunswick, Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of Canada, or to a charity of the donor's choice.