Mildred (Milly) McCarthy Riemenschneider, devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and community leader, died peacefully Aug. 5, 2019, in Montecito, CA.
She was born on Sept. 24, 1922. Milly was the daughter of Mildred Miller McCarthy and Dennis Percy McCarthy and the granddaughter of the then-governor of New York (elected in 1920), Nathan (Elizabeth) Miller. She was also the fourth great-granddaughter of Benjamin Franklin. Her great-great-grandfather was Thomas McCarthy, who was nominated to be the first mayor of Syracuse.
Milly grew up in Syracuse, graduated from the Goodyear-Burlingame School and then went on to Wheaton College in Norton, MA, where she received her bachelor’s degree in 1944. While at Wheaton she met on a blind date and fell in love with Harvard medical student, Paul Riemenschneider, who became her devoted husband of 61 years. Milly and Paul married in 1945 and began their life together in San Diego where Paul served in the Navy. After the Navy and a residency in Boston, Milly and Paul moved to Syracuse where Paul chaired the Radiology Department at Memorial Hospital while Milly nurtured their six children in the Sedgwick Farms neighborhood. Milly acted as every kind of scout and troop leader as well as football coach. She was well known for her athleticism, competitiveness, gamesmanship, creative Halloween costumes, fun parties, joy of life and love of family.
In 1964 Milly and Paul moved their family to Santa Barbara, CA, yet they continued a bi-coastal lifestyle spending wonderful summers surrounded by lifelong friends and family at their beloved Skaneateles Lake camp – a tradition they continued throughout their lives and is carried on by their children.
Milly lived her 97 years with an energy that knew no bounds … few could keep up though many tried. Whether on the golf course, tennis courts or bridge table, she played to win yet always took the time to teach and enjoy those with whom she was competing.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Paul, son-in-law Thomas (Betsy) Sales, sisters – Mary (Betty) Coffin and Patricia Korry, and brothers – Dennis and Nathan (Nate). She is survived by her six children: Bobbi (Gene Updike) Riemenschneider, Nan (Paul) Christensen, Dave (Sandy Applegate) Riemenschneider, Al (Juli) Riemenschneider, Betsy Sales and Sarah (Fred) Kass; 10 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.
A celebration of Milly’s life will be held in Skaneateles during the 2020 summer. Donations in Milly’s name can be made to the Skaneateles Lake Association Inc., PO Box 862, Skaneateles, NY 13152.
