Thirman Milner, who in 1981 became the first popularly elected Black mayor in New England, in Hartford, Conn., and went on to serve three terms, died on Nov. 29 at his home there. His death was confirmed by his stepdaughter Virginia Monteiro, the first vice chairwoman of the Connecticut and the Greater Hartford branches of the N.A.A.C.P. He traveled to the South to protest against racial segregation, then returned to Hartford, the state’s capital and one of the nation’s poorest cities at the time. There, he said, he discovered that discrimination against Black people was even worse. He grudgingly agreed to enter politics, serving two terms in the State Legislature before challenging Mayor George A. Athanson, Hartford’s flamboyant incumbent, who had served since 1971 and was seeking a sixth term.

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Persons: Thirman Milner, Virginia Monteiro, Milner, Martin Luther King Jr, Mayor George A Organizations: Black, Air Force, New York University, Mayor Locations: New England, Hartford, Conn, Connecticut, Greater Hartford, New York City