Perhaps best known as the owner of the Deer Lake Athletic Club, Jacqui Milzow also had a long career as an educator, so the family believes a scholarship fund in her memory is very appropriate.
Dr. Jacqueline Milzow, 66, died Sept. 30 from an apparent heart attack following recently diagnosed pancreatic cancer. Her husband, Forrest Milzow, said the cancer was diagnosed only within the last three weeks.
Retired after 29 years with the Pontiac school district, Dr. Milzow focused on special education and curriculum development. She maintained an interest in education even after her retirement and the Jacqui Milzow Memorial Scholarship Fund will be used to offer scholarships for those with special needs, her husband said.
Her passion since 1973 was the Deer Lake Athletic Club on White Lake Road. She and her husband built the facility and adapted it over the years to better meet the needs of their clientele.
In a 2002 interview with The Clarkston News, Jacqui Milzow described her attitude toward the staff at Deer Lake: ‘The people don’t work for me, they work with me. We like to provide a neighborhood feeling for our members.?
Mary Jo Colonna, tennis pro at the athletic club, worked with Jacqui Milzow for 18 years and echoed that sentiment.
‘She was like a mom and a boss,? Colonna said, noting she was a woman of elegance as well as cheer. ‘She always had a smile on her face. She was unselfish in her giving.?
Jacqui Milzow played the role of gracious host to many people through the years, both clients of the athletic facility and patrons of the Back Court restaurant and banquet facility.
‘She could remember names and make people feel welcome,? Forrest Milzow said. ‘She respected everyone she knew whether they were at the top of the ladder or the bottom of the ladder.?
Her fondness for flowers, gardening and gourmet cooking were evident in both her personal and professional life. Colonna said she would often bring back ideas for new menu items from her travels, and she tried her hand at several items, as well. What has commonly become known as ‘Jacqui’s salad? won an award at the Taste of Clarkston, Sunday, Sept. 26.
Jacqui Milzow, a Lake Angelus resident, also enjoyed traveling on her motorcycle, both in the company of her husband and by herself.
‘I had a hard time keeping up with her,? Forrest Milzow said.
In addition to her husband, survivors include two children, a sister and several aunts, uncles, and nephews. (Additional information is available in Obit section of the website.)
Until a permanent organization is established, contributions for the Jacqui Milzow Memorial Scholarship Fund may be sent to the Coats Funeral Home, 3141 Sashabaw Road, Waterford, MI 48329.