Milan Joseph Turk, 87

November 25, 1938 – January 18, 2026. 

Milan J. Turk

Milan J. Turk, age 87 of New Canaan, CT. died on January 18, 2026, in Danbury, CT. surrounded by his loving family after a brief hospital stay. Milan was born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana to Zdenka Cop Turk and Frank Paul Turk. He attended Baton Rouge High School and graduated from Louisiana State University – BS Chemical Engineering (1960); MBA (1962) and Harvard’s Advanced Management Program. While at LSU he was President of the College of Engineering. 

In 1961, he married the love of his life, Margot Genre, in Port Allen, LA and together they raised four children: Lori, Milan Jr. Margot, and Richard. He began his career in Baton Rouge at Exxon followed by many successful years with Stauffer Chemical Company in Houston, Manhattan, Westport, CT., Geneva, Switzerland and again in Westport. He worked for Mobay Corporation in Pittsburgh for two years before returning to Connecticut, retiring from International Paper in Purchase, NY in 2000. Over the years, the family moved from Baton Rouge, to Houston, to Westfield, NJ, to Fairfield CT, to Geneva Switzerland, back to Fairfield, to Sewickley, PA. and then to New Canaan, CT.

Milan was a man of faith and a lifelong Catholic, his illegible handwriting a testament to his early Catholic school years. He was a member of St. Pius X in Fairfield and since 1990, St Aloysious in New Canaan. He was a Knight of Columbus. He was also a proud first-generation American on his mother’s side. 

He loved model airplanes, tennis, shooting sports, hunting dogs, fishing, lemon meringue pie, oatmeal cookies with lots of raisins, photography, gin rummy, Sunday newspaper comics, fine wine, and ice cream. He truly enjoyed building and fixing things and appreciated beautiful wood. He collected and shared many things which brought him joy.

Milan was an Eagle Scout, father to two Eagles and grandfather to two Eagles. He went on a Boy Scout Boundary Waters trek as an adult when he was 67. He was always happy to have one of his beloved dogs, Duke, Contessa (Tess) Queen Isabella (Bella), or King Charles (Charlie) walking by his side. He was a longtime member of the Weston Gun Club and the winner of many shooting competitions. He organized many annual hunting trips for fellowship among cherished friends. For several years he and Margot represented Connecticut in Tennis Mixed Doubles at the Senior Olympic Games. 

While living in Geneva, he learned to ski – but not to speak French – and took his family and colleagues on many memorable ski vacations. He also became a member of the Confrerie des Chevaliers du Tastevin in Burgundy, France. In recent year’s Parkinson’s curtailed his airplane building and flying as well as his shooting. He still read countless articles saying, “I have to get back to flying soon.” He realized the silver lining was the friends he had made at exercise classes at the Westport YMCA. 

Most of all, he loved his family and invested significant personal time and energy in family time. He shared all his passions with his children and grandchildren and supported their endeavors in many ways. “You are my Sunshine” – in honor of his wife Margot, was known by many to be his favorite tune, and together they gathered the family as often as possible. When asked years ago what his grandchildren should call him, he didn’t take himself too seriously and said, “I have always aspired to be called Sir” and so the nickname stuck. A regular feature of every family gathering was an attempt at a full family photograph with Milan setting the timer and running into his spot in the picture combing his hair as he ran. Milan kept the pocket comb industry in business and was never without one. Pictures of family gatherings fill tables and albums in Milan and Margot’s home. 

Milan is survived by his wife of 64 years Margot G. Turk, New Canaan, CT; his children – Lori Brown Murphy (Mark) of Laurinburg, NC, Milan J. Turk, Jr. (Beth) of Hendersonville, NC, Margot Turk Newkirchen (Lance) of Fairfield CT, and Richard P. Turk (Becky) of Santa Monica, CA; Grandchildren – Mary Kate Murphy (Ken), Matthew Turk (Kenzie), Madeleine Turk Zylberman (Justin), Kathryn Turk, Brandon Turk, and Avery Newkirchen, and one great-grandson Noah Joseph Zylberman; siblings – Susan Orr (Don), Carol Tisdale, Mary Frances Faul, sisters-in-law Jeanne Genre Lorio and Marilyn Turk; brother-in-law Lawrence Mercier; and many nieces and nephews.

Milan was predeceased by his parents Frank Paul and Zdenka Cop Turk, his in-laws Richard and Marguerite Crozat Genre, siblings Frank Turk Jr. and Margaret Turk Mercier, and brothers-in-law Dr. Phil Lorio and Michael Tisdale. 

Visitation will be held at Hoyt Funeral Home, 199 Main Street, New Canaan 06840 on Friday, January 23, from 4 to 6 pm and there will be a Catholic Funeral Mass celebrated at St. Aloysius 21 Cherry Street, New Canaan 06840, on Saturday, January 24 at 10 AM. Interment will be a later date at Roselawn Cemetery in Baton Rouge.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a gift to organizations Milan supported: Parkinson’s Body & Mind (https://www.parkinsonsbodyandmind.org) and St. Aloysius Parish (https://starcc.com)