Necrology

Mary Lou McNaughton Millar

Mar. 1, 1931-Jan. 6, 2024

Mary Lou McNaughton Millar P’78,’90, GP’22, a former longtime receptionist in the Admission Office, died on Jan. 6, 2024. She was the wife of the late Professor of History Emeritus David Millar, who served on the faculty from 1963 to 1991.

Born in Menomonie, Wis., on March 1, 1931, Mary Lou completed her high school education in Menomonie schools and college coursework at George Washington University and Western Illinois. From 1949 to 1952, she served as a private secretary to the president of the O&N Lumber Co. in Menomonie, launching what would be a long career in administrative work. 

On June 6, 1953, Mary Lou married David Millar, whom she had known since high school. From 1952 to 1960, having followed her sister to Washington, D.C., she worked in the Internal Revenue Office of the General Counsel, later transferring to the Treasury Department and the Tax Court of the United States. She served as confidential secretary to judges William Drennen and Clarence V. Opper. 

The Millars welcomed their first son in 1956 and soon moved to Ithaca, N.Y. Mary Lou worked as the secretary to University Counsel at Cornell University while her husband completed his Ph.D. Relocating to Clinton when David joined the Hamilton faculty, Mary Lou served in a variety of capacities both at the College and local law offices while welcoming two more sons. The couple lived in Seattle in 1972 and traveled throughout Europe in 1976. 

From 1981 until her retirement in 1999, Mary Lou took on a more visible role. As the receptionist in Hamilton’s Admission Office, she was the face of the College, always quick to offer a warm welcome and greeting to future students and families arriving for interviews and tours. Off College Hill, she volunteered as host mother to two ABC program students, as a Cub Scout den mother, and in the Lutheran Care Ministry in Clinton supporting the Martin Luther Nursing Home. She later served as Chapter BG president and a long-term member of the P.E.O. (Philanthropic Educational Organization). 

Mary Lou died on what would have been her husband’s 92nd birthday. Surviving are three sons, Robert ’78, Bruce, and James ’90 and his wife Anna Millar ’91; 10 grandchildren, including Ally Millar ’22; and four great-grandchildren.

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