William F. Millerick

William (Bill) Francis Millerick passed away peacefully with his wife by his side on April 15, 2025, at the age of 77. Family, friends and colleagues are deeply saddened to lose him, but we know his arrival in heaven was fantastic six-column, above-the-fold, front page news.

Born February 7, 1948, in New Britain, CT, Bill was the first son of Eugene and Sylvia Millerick. On a summer vacation in 1966, Bill met the love of his life and beloved wife of 53 years, Gail Cail Millerick.  After college, they married and began life’s journey together. Bill was a devoted and loving husband, cherished brother, brother-in law, cousin, uncle and Godfather; and like his parents before him, family was the single most important thing in his life. Conversation thrived wherever Bill was, and countless hours were spent in the Millerick family homes simply talking, laughing, exchanging stories and debating ideas and public policy.  He loved family gatherings – the bigger the better -- especially Fourth of July and Christmas.  He enjoyed the many family ski trips to New Hampshire and Colorado.  Bill and Gail treasured their vacations in Nantucket, Hilton Head and Venice, Florida where they purchased their retirement home.

A graduate of Watkinson School and Central Connecticut State University, Bill went on to pursue a career in Journalism.  Beginning in the 1970s as a sports reporter at The Herald of New Britain, he worked his way up to editor and eventually managing and executive editor.

Bill Millerick loved every aspect of journalism and reporting -- from news gathering and writing to editing, selecting and placing the stories of the day. He enjoyed the organized chaos of the newsroom along with the occasional frenzy of scrapping a whole layout to accommodate breaking news at deadline – and still making sure the presses ran and the delivery trucks were loaded on time. He could intently listen to a reporter in his office, keep an ear on the scanner, manage the ever-changing “news hole” as advertisements were placed or pulled, and rapidly edit copy without breaking a sweat – which he saved for ball games with The Herald’s team. Bill always understood that the competition wasn’t other newspapers, but television and then later, the internet, and even on the day he died, he was an avid news junkie, reading the “gray ladies” and watching electronic news sources. 

But most of all he loved the reporters he managed and mentored at The Herald. He loved telling stories of his cub reporter days under the venerable Dick Conway, “Millerick, when I tell you to write a story about peaches, I want to see juice dripping off the damn page!” He understood the importance of great writing and pushed his reporters to their best work.  A newsman’s newsman, he loved the smell of the newsroom and everything about the close camaraderie, the yelling for copy, the ringing phones and clacking keyboards. Bill firmly believed that “once you covered daily news for a local newspaper you could do anything, for anyone,” and many graduates of Bill’s newsroom went on to successful careers in journalism and related fields. But no matter how far reporters, photographers and fellow editors went, they'd keep in touch because Bill played such an important role in their lives, both personally and professionally.

As The Herald’s ownership evolved, Bill's passion for people and New Britain continued when he changed careers and became the President of the New Britain Chamber of Commerce from 1998 to 2013. Bill was the face of the city's business community and one of its biggest cheerleaders. He was one of New Britain's most successful, well-liked, and highly regarded Chamber presidents. As at The Herald, his Chamber staff worked hard to deliver their best work for Bill, knowing those efforts were understood and appreciated.  

In fact, making people feel seen and appreciated for their talents was one of Bill’s most special gifts. He was an intensely loyal and steadfast cheerleader and knew that when people felt encouraged and confident they could achieve any goal.

Bill is survived by his wife, Gail; sister, Michele Erling of Bluffton, SC; brother, John and wife, Kathy of Bradenton, FL and East Haven; brother James and wife, Susan, of Old Lyme, CT; brother-in-law, Thomas Cail of Enfield and many nieces, nephews and Godchildren all of whom brought him great joy. Bill was predeceased by his father and mother, Eugene and Sylvia and uncles, aunts and cousins, and most recently by his brother-in-law, Gordon Erling and sister-in-law, Donna Cail Holmes.

Calling hours will be held on Friday, April 25, 2025, from 5 - 7 pm at the Plainville Funeral Home, 81 Broad Street, Plainville.  Funeral services will be held on Saturday at 9 am from the funeral home, with a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 am at Our Lady of Mercy, Broad Street, Plainville.  Committal Will follow at St. Joseph Cemetery. The family gives heartfelt thanks to Bill’s visiting nurse, Ellen Rohrback, his aides, Bingle, Nana, Lisa, Mariza and his YMCA adaptive trainers, Christy, Charles and Paul.    Donations in Bill’s memory may be made to Watkinson School, 180 Bloomfield Avenue, Hartford, CT 06105 or The Petit Family Foundation, P.O. Box 310, Plainville, CT  06062.

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