Richard Milnes

Richard Milnes, 65, of Tottenville, a retired NYCHA construction project manager, contractor and construction foreman who loved sailing and traveling with his wife, died Saturday in Staten Island University Hospital, Prince's Bay, after a long illness.

The lifelong Staten Islander was born and raised in Great Kills and graduated from St. Peter's Boys High School. He attended Webster College, St. Louis, Mo.

Mr. Milnes moved to Tottenville over 30 years ago.

He worked as a construction foreman for the family business, John Milnes Co.; was a contractor with his own company, Richard C. Milnes Construction, and retired from the New York City Housing Authority as a construction project manager in 2007.

An avid sailor, he was a member of the Richmond County Yacht Club, where he raced a succession of boats named for Greek mythological figures. He raced his last boat, Nemesis, to many victories.

Mr. Milnes also loved traveling with his wife and longtime sweetheart, Madeline (Maddie) Tinney, as well as gardening and cooking.

He was very close to the Tinney family as well as his own, and especially to William Michael Tinney, to whom he was Grandpa, family added.

Mr. Milnes will be remembered for his unfailingly cheerful disposition and dry sense of humor.

Surviving, along with Maddie, his wife of 15 years, are his brothers, Mark and James; his sisters, Catherine Atkinson, Helena Del Re and Mary Yancey, and a grandchild.

The funeral will be Wednesday from the Bedell-Pizzo Funeral Home, with a Mass at 10 a.m. in Our Lady Help of Christians R.C. Church, both in Tottenville. Burial will follow in OceanView Cemetery.

Services: 10:00 AM Mass of Christian Burial on Wednesday, September 9,2015 at Our Lady Help of Christian's R.C.Church. Followed by burial at Ocean View Cemetery.

Visitation: Bedell-Pizzo Funeral Home Tuesday September 8,2015 2-4 & 7-10 PM

Cemetery: Ocean View Cemetery

Location: Bedell-Pizzo Funeral Home

Church: Our Lady Help of Christians R.C.Church