Natick Resident, Taught Pilots to Fly in WWII, Passes Away at 95

Obituary as posted on John Everett and Sons Funeral Home

Donald M. “Milt” Thornquist of Natick passed away suddenly on Wednesday, December 31, 2014 at the Leonard Morse Hospital of Natick. He was ninety-five years old.

Born in Bloomfield, New Jersey on October 1, 1919, he was the son of the late John Magnus and Amanda (Andersson) Thornquist.

Milt was raised in Syracuse, New York and a 1948 graduate of Syracuse University. He would have graduated college sooner however, he left school and enlisted during WWII and taught pilots how to fly planes for the United States Navy from 1941 until 1945.

Then, after graduating, he worked for Fay, Spofford and Thorndike of Boston for thirty-five years. Mr. Thornquist started as a civil engineer and worked his way up to Senior Vice President, holding that position for ten years retiring at the age of sixty-six.

He was a Natick resident since 1958 and enjoyed his backyard, stamp and coin collecting, playing bridge and poker with his buddies and volunteering for the Natick Service Counsel.

Milt was the devoted husband of Janet (Rorrer) Thornquist of Natick and together they shared sixty years of marriage.

He was the loving father of John A. Thornquist and his wife Myrna of Brighton, Diane S. White and her husband James of Millis, Nancy T. Cassidy and her husband Stephen, also of Millis and Donald M. Thornquist, Jr. and his wife Elaine of Ashland.

Cherished grandfather of Lindsay Thornquist of Roxbury, Ianna Thornquist of Brighton, James White, III and Amanda White, both of Millis, Patrick and Layne Cassidy, also of Millis, Kayla Thornquist of Chestnut Hill and Nicholas and Timothy Thornquist of Ashland and the caring brother of the late John Allan Thornquist.

Funeral from the John Everett & Sons Funeral Home, 4 Park St., at Natick Common on Tuesday, January 6th at 9:00AM. Funeral Service in the Christ Lutheran Church, 113 Union St., Natick at 10:00AM with Pastor Rebecca Bourret officiating. Relatives and friends respectfully invited.

Visiting hours in the funeral home on Monday, January 5th from 4:00-7:00PM. Burial in Dell Park Cemetery, Natick.

Memorial contributions in Milt’s memory may be made to the Christ Lutheran Church, 113 Union St., Natick, MA 01760.