Eleanor H. Verduin Millonzi, 86, civic leader, Norton medal recipient

A memorial service was held Tuesday in Trinity Episcopal Church for Eleanor H. Verduin Millonzi, a civic leader whose service to the university was recognized in 1995 with the Chancellor Charles P. Norton Medal, the university's highest tribute. Mrs. Millonzi, 86, died Sept. 25 in her home after a short illness.

Earlier this year, Mrs. Millonzi donated $250,000 to endow the Robert I. and Eleanor V. Millonzi Distinguished Honors Scholarship, which enables UB to recruit and educate the best artists/scholars-in-training. Her late husband, Robert Millonzi, who graduated from the UB School of Law in 1935, chaired the UB Council from 1978-1981.

Honored in 1987 by the UB Alumni Association with an award for public service, Mrs. Millonzi served as vice chairwoman of the Center for the Arts Advisory Committee at UB and was a member of the board of directors of the YWCA, the Elmwood-Franklin School, the Episcopal Community Services, the Buffalo Philharmonic Women's Committee, serving as its president, and the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra Board.

She also served in a variety of volunteer leadership roles with the Arts Council of Buffalo and Erie County, the Buffalo Council on World Affairs, the Amherst Saxophone Quartet, the Greater Buffalo Opera, the City of Buffalo Commission on Human Relations, the International Institute, the American Red Cross, ArtPark and the Studio Arena Theatre.

Mrs. Millonzi was a graduate of Eastern Michigan University's College of Education.

Her daughter, Mary Eleanor "Molly" Raiser, of Washington, D.C., served for four years in the Clinton Administration as the state department's chief of protocol, with the rank of ambassador. In addition to Mrs. Raiser, she is survived by another daughter, Elizabeth J. "Betsy" Levinson of Concord, Mass., and four grandchildren.