Millie Fromm

Millie Fromm of Madison, Wisconsin passed away on Monday, June 19, 2023. 

She was born Mildred Mae Andersen on November 19, 1930 in Sparta, Wisconsin to Louis & Clara Andersen of Daneville, Wisconsin.

Millie graduated from Sparta High School in 1948 & went on to graduate from Madison’s Methodist Hospital School of Nursing in 1951.  Specializing in operating room nursing, she moved to Galveston, Texas to begin her career.  There, she met her future husband, Dr. Stanley M Fromm, a neurosurgeon.  She loved “The Yellow Rose of Texas” & remained a University of Texas fan for life.

Millie & Stan later moved to Connecticut where they spent their married lives. Millie’s great passion, discovered while in nursing school, was playing bridge.  She excelled at it & in 1967 became an American Contract Bridge League (ACBL) Life Master.  She achieved Sapphire status in 2017 & had continued to accumulate Master Points playing on-line until her passing.  She served as ACBL President & Secretary of the New England ACBL District for many years.  One of her great joys was serving as WeeBurn Country Club Duplicate Bridge Director for 54 years.  She has been honored there with The Mildred Fromm Annual Bridge Tournament which she has attended the past two years.  She was a decades long member of The Patterson Club in Fairfield, CT.

Millie & Stan traveled the world & had countless memorable experiences.  These included riding in a dugout canoe with a local tribe in Borneo, going on safaris in Africa, cruising through the Panama Canal & on the Black Sea, travel in the Far East & the South Pacific.  She carefully chronicled these adventures to share with her extended family.

Millie’s friends brought great joy to her life.  Many bridge players were among her closest friends.  After moving to Madison, Wisconsin two years ago to be near family, she maintained her relationships & deeply missed seeing her Connecticut friends.  Charles & Ruthie Chiusano, very special friends, drove from Connecticut to Wisconsin three times to visit Millie in her new home.  Her long-term friend, Nancy Robertson, sent her a handwritten letter each week.

She loved cats & gave home to many over the years.  Dixie, her present feline companion, is still waiting for Millie to come home.  Millie was a loyal Green Bay Packer fan, even during the down years.  She always wore her Packer sweatshirt the day after a victory.  She also loved the Milwaukee Braves & Hank Aaron specifically.

Millie is survived by her brother, Robert Andersen (wife, Lois) of Sparta, Wisconsin, sister Ann Zillmer of Black River Falls, Nieces Debra Zillmer (Daniel Leaver) of Madison, Lisa Deutsch (John) of Lakewood Ranch, FL, Nephews Roger Zillmer (Janet) of McKinney, Texas, David Zillmer (Cheryle) of Sun Prairie, WI & Ronald Zillmer of Merrillan, WI. She has many great nieces & nephews. 

She was preceded in death by her husband Stanley M Fromm & her parents who were mentioned above.

Per her wishes, there will be no funeral service.  Instead, there will be private gatherings of Wisconsin family & Connecticut friends.

Memorials can be given to:

1.  Connecticut Audubon Society.  https://www.ctaudubon.org     Under “Donate” tab, go to “Memorial or Tribute Gifts”
2. Doctors without Borders.  https://donate.doctorswithoutborders.org   Use “Donations in Someone’s Honor” tab, state “In Memory of Millie Fromm”