- Date Of Birth: May 31, 1927
- Date Of Death: October 16, 2022
- State: Connecticut
Milan “Mike” Knight, 95, formerly of Winsted, passed peacefully on October 16th at River Ridge@Avon in Avon, CT where he resided since moving back to CT from Port Charlotte, Florida.
Mike was born May 31, 1927 in Peterborough, New Hampshire, son of George and Bernice Knight. Immediately after graduating high school, he joined the Navy where he spent a year on an LSM in the Pacific Ocean. Using the GI bill, Mike enrolled at New England College in Henniker, NH as a student in their inaugural class. He majored in history with an eye on becoming a teacher. He was also active in sports and was later inducted to their Athletic Hall of Fame. He continued his relationship with NEC by serving as a member of the alumni board of trustees. Until his death, he was the oldest living alumni and was honored in a recent alumni magazine issue.
Mike‘s first job was as 6th grade teacher and principal at the Warner Elementary School in Warner NH where he met and married Marjorie French. Together they had four children and the family moved to Winsted in 1956 for medical reasons. Winsted was chosen as the landscape was similar to NH and two college buddies lived there. Milan’s first job was at the Pearson School. He then took a position as teacher at the Barkhamsted Elementary School where he taught 5th and 6th grades, specializing in math and reading skills. Mike was instrumental in using the funds from the CT Lottery system designated for education, to take his six graders to Cape Cod for a week of learning at the Coast Guard station in Eastham. Mike loved teaching and never said that he was “going to work.” Instead he always said he was going “to school.” He retired after 37 years.
Milan has always been active in service organizations and charities. The American Heart Association was important to him. He also was a charter member of the Winsted Lion’s Club. Being extremely involved, he held all posts at the local and state levels and became District Governor for district B in 1972. Later Mike became a member of the Elks and rose to the position of Exalted Ruler. He remained locally active in both organizations when he summered in Ct. The American Red Cross cited him for donating 25 gallons of blood.
Children have always held a special place in Mike’s heart. In the summers when he wasn’t teaching, he ran summer camps. He was director for the local YMCA camp and then became co-owner of Camelot Academic Camp at West Hill. Following that he ran Camp Berger, a Grange camp in Winchester Center. Throughout his career he used to say that when he retired, he wanted to get a job as a school janitor so he could spend time with the kids as a friend without being a person of authority. He did not actually do this but instead ran a day care center out of his home for 7 years with his second wife Norma.
Mike is predeceased by his sisters, Charlotte and Arline Watson, his brother Frederick Knight and his youngest daughter, Debra Weston of Brighton, Michigan. He leaves behind his special companion of 20 years, Sylvia Lovley, as well as Marge Gersky and their children, Marty Knight of Middletown, Joy Hale of Winchester Center, Bill and Lois Knight of Torrington and granddaughter Meeka Knight, and nephew Robert Roth in California.
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