Millicent (Millie) Frances McCathren

Millicent (Millie) Frances McCathren, 97, Pittsburgh, PA, passed away on Friday, September 17, 2021 at Presbyterian Senior Care with her daughter, Cindy, at her side.She is survived by her husband, Daniel Zamos, her four children:Randall McCathren (Holly), Pamela Currence -predeceased (Bill), Rebecca McCathren (William Jacoby) and Cynthia Mancinelli (Joe) of Charleroi, PA., eight grandchildren and thirteen great grandchildren. She was born March 13, 1924 in Valparaiso, Indiana, the daughter of Ross andBlanche Skinkle. Millie was an adventurer who lived her life to the fullest.As a farmer’s daughter, she was especially proud of her ability to drive a tractor by age 10. Millie was an athlete who was the catcher on the boy’s high school baseball team, played varsity basketball and also played semi pro softball in college. She was a woman ahead of her time in going to college and raising a family while excelling at a demanding profession in education administration. She was a lifetime learner and caretaker who loved her family and career. Millie grew up on a farm in the Great Depression and learned hard work and to appreciate how family and friends work together.She was a music major at Indiana University.Her first job was directing the junior high school band in her hometown of Valparaiso. She met the high school band director there, Donald McCathren and they married in June, 1948.From Valparaiso, Don and Millie moved first to Norfolk, VA and then to San Juan, Puerto Rico as Don was called to serve as an officer in the US Navy during the Korean War.From Puerto Rico they moved to Kenosha, WI and finally to Bethel Park, PA.Millie became a piano teacher and was beloved by her many young students. When her youngest child entered first grade, Millie became a kindergarten teacher and also began working on her Master’s Degree in Special Education.With the support of Christ Methodist Church, she co-founded theHighland School as part of the Wesley Institute. For the next 25 years, she dedicated her life to the children and faculty and expanded the school services, creating a national reputation for the school.As if raising four children and running an ever changing school weren’t enough, Millie always found time for friends, family and her favorite pastime: bridge. She was known to make a delicious daiquiri and her family always gathered at her house for the holidays. Millie retired with her second husband, DanielZamos, to N. Myrtle Beach, SC.She and Dan ran the local duplicate bridge club, playedtennis almost daily and entertained a myriad of family and friends visiting them at the beach.In 2018, she and Dan moved to Nashville and then in 2019 moved to Washington, PA where Cindy and her two daughters visited her regularly. Millie was well loved and loved well throughout her life.The family requests that charitable contributions be made online to Presbyterian Senior Care Foundation, Benevolent Society at the Washington, PA campus