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Jeffrey Bay ‘Jeff’ Miltenberger
Jeffrey Bay “Jeff” Miltenberger of Hawthorn Woods, Illinois, East Hampton, and Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, died on December 1 after a long illness. He was 81.
He was born on October 9, 1942, in St. Louis, Missouri, to William Ernest “Bay” Miltenberger and Helen Wagner Miltenberger.
He met his wife, Sally Shull, at Northwestern University, where they both studied biology, because she had a car and he needed transportation to a bog for a class project.
Professionally, he became one of the first “IT guys” working for Hooker Chemical and Abbott Laboratories, originally carrying briefcases of computer punch cards, then a large dial-up modem, and eventually a laptop.
He was an avid sailor and shared his passion with both his daughters on Lake Michigan and beyond. After he retired, he strived to live where he could always wear sandals, spending his time between Hawthorn Woods, Illinois, East Hampton, and Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.
In Puerto Vallarta, he served the local community through the Navy League, acting as president and liaison with visiting U.S. naval ships to provide volunteers for projects in needy neighborhoods and to facilitate fundraising events and toy distribution for Toys for Tots.
He spent his final years in the care of the Shorehaven Health and Rehabilitation Center in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin. He loved spy thrillers, dogs, convertibles, peanut butter, chunky monkey ice cream, and pineapple upside-down cake.
His family will always be grateful to the spiritual care offered by St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Watertown, Wisconsin, and to the extraordinary, giving professionals who worked to sustain his health, comfort, and dignity through his illness, including Warren in New York, Tania in Mexico, and so many kind aides and nurses at Shorehaven in Wisconsin. The family would also like to thank Agrace Hospice for their care and compassion in his final weeks.
He was predeceased by his wife of 43 years, Sally, with whom he traveled extensively. During her last months in 2009, he was always by her side as she tried to fight cancer.
He is survived by his daughters, Amy (David) Byrne and Julie Miltenberger; grandsons Laurence, Alexander, Julian, and Henry; siblings Randy (Joy) Miltenberger and Jan Terry. He also leaves his beloved cocker spaniel, Millie, in his family’s care.
A funeral service will be held at noon on Friday, December 15, at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in East Hampton, with the Reverend Dr. Benjamin Shambaugh presiding. Burial will follow at Cedar Lawn Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 11 a.m. until the time of service at the church.
In lieu of flowers, please send donations in his memory to Toys for Tots (toysfortots.org).
Staff Writer on Dec 4, 2023