Danny Mills RIP

http://www.silive.com/obituaries/advance/index.ssf?/base/news/1224591318228960.xml&coll=1

DANIEL MILLS SR., 67
Ruddy & Dean co-owner appeared in movies
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
By KIAWANA RICH
ADVANCE STAFF WRITER
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Daniel (Danny) Mills Sr. was quick with a warm smile and a kind word.

The 67-year-old New Brighton resident owned a piece of not one, but two successful taverns, Ruddy & Dean restaurant in St. George and the legendary Farrell's Bar and Grill in Brooklyn.

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Ruddy & Dean became a Staten Island staple, while Farrell's allowed Mr. Mills to rub shoulders with the literati and glitterati. He parlayed those connections into several bit parts in movies, including the Academy Award-winning "As Good as It Gets." Farrell's also was featured in several commercials.

The affable Mr. Mills died Sunday after jumping off the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge, according to police, who offered no further information. The family could not shed light on the tragedy.

Born in Brooklyn, Mr. Mills settled in New Brighton in 1976.

Most of Mr. Mills' wildly entertaining tales revolved around the good times had at Farrell's, which was frequented by the likes of legendary newsmen Pete Hamill and Jimmy Breslin, as well as Oscar-winning actress Shirley MacLaine.

Mr. Mills was quoted in a 2001 story in The New York Times discussing why the popular bar served beer in plastic cups rather than bottles. He told the Times, the disposable cups came about because years ago patrons liked to carry out beer.

In the same piece, he noted the bar made a decision to add a handful of bottled beers based on the evolving tastes of his clientele: Some patrons, it seems, want fewer ounces; others drink with their health in mind. (The bottled beers included "light" and even nonalcoholic brands.)

BIT PARTS

In addition, Mr. Mills told The Times that Ms. MacLaine also showed up one night in the 1970s and demanded to drink with Mr. Mills and the two other bartenders who also later became co-owners.

Mr. Mills scored bit parts in the films "Batteries Not Included" and 1988's award-winning "The House on Carroll Street." His acting stints allowed him to become a card-carrying member of the Screen Actors Guild (SAG).

"He was proud of being a SAG card member," said his son, Daniel Mills, Jr.

Mr. Mills began working at Farrell's in 1964 as a bartender and he became an owner in 1996. Mr. Mills also co-owned and operated Ruddy & Dean restaurant with son, Daniel.

When the elder Mr. Mills took it over in the early 1990s, he changed the name from the Terrace Grill to Mills Court. After a major renovation in 2000, the bar was renamed Ruddy & Dean -- the combined maiden names of Mr. Mills' wife and mother, respectively.

In a 1995 Advance profile, Mr. Mills spoke fondly of his days frequenting the bar in the early 1980s, when it was known as the Abbey Pub.

"The names may have changed over the years, but the view is still one of the best on the Island," the piece quoted Mr. Mills, noting, "You look out the window and you have the greatest skyline in the world right across the water ... It's also right in the center of the court system. You have a lot of people walking by who are looking for a place to eat lunch."

ENJOYED SOCIALIZING

And like any tavern owner or barkeeper, Mr. Mills most enjoyed socializing with his customers.

"He was an entertainer. He loved to be with people and he enjoyed breaking shoes," said his son. "He was the life of the party and he was always good for a discussion and loved bantering back and forth with everyone."

The elder Mr. Mills was a graduate of Manual Training High School in Brooklyn, where he was on the basketball and baseball teams.

Mr. Mills was also a member of the Knights of Columbus.

An avid fan of the football Giants, Mr. Mills loved the Brooklyn Dodgers. Like many, his heart was broken when the team left for the West Coast. The Boston Red Sox, however, filled that void.

Mr. Mills was on the Warren Jaques Memorial Committee, which annually selects Staten Island's top high school athlete, and, inspired by the work of the late Dr. Theodore Atlas and his son, Teddy, became a member of the Dr. Theodore Atlas Foundation.

"He was a wonderful father, a tremendous friend and he taught me never to kick anyone when they were down. He said everyone deserves a second chance," said Daniel Jr. "He would put his arm around you when you needed someone to put their arm around you."

Mr. Mills served six months in the National Guard. During that time, he became friends with political activist Ralph Nader, according to family. Nader promptly nicknamed him "Street Corner," because Mr. Mills could always be found telling another story about life in Brooklyn.

HOLE-IN-ONE

An avid golfer, Mr. Mills once realized every golfer's dream, a hole-in-one, during a 1998 golf outing in Fredricksburg, Va.

Mr. Mills was a parishioner of Our Lady of Good Counsel R.C. Church, Tompkinsville. In Brooklyn, he had been a parishioner of Holy Name R.C. Church.

Along with his son, Daniel, surviving are his wife of 43 years, the former Maureen Ruddy; a daughter, Tara Mills-Karvounis; three brothers, Robert, Thomas and Edward, and four grandchildren. The funeral will be Thursday from the Casey Funeral Home, Castleton Corners, with a mass at 10 a.m. in Our Lady of Good Counsel Church. A private cremation will follow.

That's sad news.

I read that yesterday and I was very sad. I hope farrells bar stays open through all this.

RIP Danny Mills

Crazy that this happened.. I guess you never know what's going on in someone else's mind.

Unfortunately for those who, upon hearing this sad news, are secretly hoping that this means the end of Farrell's, it's my pleasure to inform you all that the bar will carry on like it always has.

Mike Farrell opened the bar in 1933 and when he passed his son Eddie took over until his passing .
The family then sold the establishment to Danny Mills and two others

Danny's partners were Jim Houlihan and Tim Horan. I should have mentioned that on my previous post.