Obituary of Millicent G Anisfield

Millicent G. Anisfield, age 92, died peacefully on December 30, 2017.  Daughter of Solomon and Jenny Gang, Millicent was born in Passaic, NJ.  She lived in Upper Montclair before moving to Saddle River more than 30 years ago.  In addition to spending her time as a caring wife and mother, she adored the family’s Dalmatians, the memories of which gave her great joy up to her passing.

Millicent was instrumental in organizing the data processing department of the family business, Kurt Versen Company, in Westwood, NJ, but was best known for her commitment to community service. She dedicated many years’ service to the League of Women Voters on both local and state levels and chaired the Greater Montclair Urban Coalition. While her daughters were in high school, she helped form Charlie’s Zoo, an after hours social and recreational program for the students of Montclair High. From there her service shifted to higher education, as she served first on the Board of Trustees of Montclair State College and then at Ramapo College of New Jersey.  She chaired the Ramapo Board of Trustees and subsequently joined the Board of Governors of the Ramapo College Foundation. In her later years, she also served on the Board of the Valley Hospital Foundation.

Millicent greatly valued Ramapo's commitment to diversity and early on created an endowed scholarship fund to provide need-based scholarships. Most notably, Millicent and her late-husband, Dick, provided the foundation gift to help build the Anisfield School of Business (ASB), endowed its deanship, and provided a generous endowment for ASB student scholarships.               

Millicent was predeceased by her husband of 63 years, Richard C. Anisfield, and her brother, Irving Lloyd Gang.  Those left to carry on her legacy are her two daughters: Susan A. Vallario and her husband, Nick, of Upper Saddle River; and Nancy Anisfield and her husband, Terry Wilson, of Hinesburg, VT.  Also surviving are several nieces and nephews and their children. A private cremation was held.  A memorial service and reception will take place at Ramapo College, Mahwah, NJ at a later date.  Arrangements by the Vander Plaat Funeral Home, www.vpfh.com, 257 Godwin Avenue, Wyckoff, NJ.  As an expression of sympathy, in lieu of flowers, donations in Millicent’s memory may be made to Ramapo College Foundation, 505 Ramapo Valley Road, Mahwah, NJ 07430-1680.