JOE C. MILLS / RETIRED NORTH SHORE LIFEGUARD

Ocean enthusiast won
peers’ respect with
‘inner nobility’

He won eight medals in a
half-dozen trips to the National
Lifeguard Championships

Joe C. Mills loved people: beachgoers, the 40-plus North Shore lifeguards under his supervision and his workers' kids, who climbed onto his lap when he played Santa Claus at the lifeguards' Christmas party.

Mills also loved the ocean and was known for his "squid eye" in catching that delicacy. But what Mills, who died July 30 at age 69, is remembered most for by his fellow lifeguards is humility, mentorship, strength and the respect he commanded by example.

Mills retired in 1994 after 26 years as a lifeguard, the same year he was honored as the Quiksilver Waterman of the Year.

Mark Cunningham, who worked under Mills for 15 years, remembers him as "as much a father and big brother as a supervisor."

"Joe was completely down to earth," Cunningham said. "This inner nobility really made you respect him, and you liked him because he was a real person."

Mills was born and raised near Aala Park, attended Kaiulani Elementary and Central Intermediate schools and graduated from McKinley High School in 1954. After serving in Korea with the U.S. Army, Mills worked at Hawaiian Pineapple Co. and Dole Cannery, where he met Eddie Aikau, another young Hawaiian waterman. The two were hired as lifeguards, working first in Waikiki, then Ala Moana Beach Park.

North Shore lifeguard Rick Williams remembers Mills as "one of the nicest people in the world," but not someone you would want to anger.

"I never knew him to actually pound someone," Williams said, "but he definitely had a presence."

A part of Mills' legend surrounded a large panther tattoo on his left forearm.

"It was big enough that we all knew it was there, and rumors were that it had to do with some really tough Kalihi gang when Joe was growing up," Williams said.

Mills exemplified "all you hear about the Hawaiian spirit," said lifeguard Capt. Bodo Vanderleeden. "Joe was a big man physically but had the strength of character that goes along with that."

Mills competed in six National Lifeguard Championships and won medals in eight events. He was a member of the BPO-Elks Lodge 616, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Hui 'O He'e Nalu, the North Shore Lifeguard Association, Komomua 'Ohana, and Hawaii Government Employees Association Oahu Retirees Unit.

He is survived by his wife of 45 years, Linda Y. Leilani; son Keo Chai Mills of Illinois; daughters Yvonne K. Patcho of Waianae and Joy K. Mills; brother William Kapeliela Mills; half brothers Wilfred, Clifford and George Clarke; half sisters Lucina Clarke and Hannah Salas; and nine grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews.

A paddle-out in Mills' memory will be held at 7 a.m. tomorrow at Sans Souci Beach.

Services will be held at 7 p.m. tomorrow at Kaumakapili Church. Friends may call from 5:30 to 8 p.m. A private burial will be held at Punchbowl Veterans' Cemetery at a later date.