Mildred “Millie” McKee FitzGerald
January 31, 2024
Mildred “Millie” Elizabeth McKee FitzGerald, 99, of Cupertino, Calif., passed away peacefully on January 31, 2024, surrounded by her loving family. Millie was born in Ogden, Utah and grew up in the hills above Oakland, Calif., where she attended Oakland High School. She was graduated from the University of California, Berkeley, Class of 1946. After graduation, Millie worked at IBM in Oakland where she pursued an “ahead-of-her-time” professional career. At a meeting of the “Kayak Club” at the Park Boulevard Presbyterian Church she met her husband of 67 years, George Gerald “Jerry” FitzGerald.
Millie and Jerry married in 1950 and moved to Orinda where they built their first home. Leaving behind her career aspirations, Millie and Jerry followed his career path to the Detroit area in 1954, to Glenview, Ill., in 1957 and back to Michigan in 1966. In 1969, they relocated to Racine, Wis., where Millie was deeply involved in many civic and charitable pursuits, including the St. Luke’s Hospital Auxiliary. After 22 years in the Midwest, Millie, Jerry and family returned to their beloved California in 1976. Settling in Santa Cruz, Millie immersed herself in many activities including P.E.O (Chapter SP), Tri-Delta alumni, “The Funtastiks” (her song and dance troupe) and especially Family Service of Santa Cruz County where she volunteered tirelessly. She is long remembered as the author of “Millie’s Mobile Menus” a column for RV’ers featured in the family business (Venture Out) newsletter.
Millie was a consummate hostess, always ready to welcome guests with her warm smile and sparkling blue eyes. Millie and Jerry travelled extensively attending numerous Rotary International conventions around the world, exploring California history with Los Californianos, and often celebrating with family and friends at their beloved home in Pasatiempo and at the Ahwahnee Hotel in Yosemite.
Millie and Jerry moved from Santa Cruz to the Forum at Rancho San Antonio in 2007, where they “aged gracefully.” The family especially wants to thank the kind, gentle and skilled caregivers at the Forum for their years of thoughtful care for both Millie and Jerry.
Millie was predeceased in death by her mother, Grace Winfred Allan McKee; her father, Rexford Basil McKee; and her husband, Jerry. Millie is survived by her three sons, Peter of Roseville, Lee (George Kohn) of Healdsburg and Bruce (Kathy) of Los Altos; four grandchildren, Ryan (Mara), Kailyn (Alex), Colleen and Joshua; and her great-granddaughter, Eileen.
Millie will be dearly missed and always remembered. A celebration of life will be held on Sunday, February 25, at noon.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Family Service Agency of the Central Coast in Santa Cruz (www.fsa-cc.org).