Millie and Her Legacy

In Loving Memory

Mildred "Millie" Gallo

10/8/1924 - 9/19/2005

Millie and Her Legacy

Millie Gallo, a former New Yorker, arrived in the Bay Area in 1953. She started sketching in school at six and in subways at sixteen. She was rarely without a sketchbook. She received a Fine Arts diploma from high school and then attended the acclaimed Art Students League in Manhattan where she studied design, color, composition, life drawing and graphic arts.

During World War II Millie took her first job at the Brooklyn Naval Yard as an ink-tracer. Later at Sperry Gyroscope she did electromechanical schematics.

At the war's end she applied to a New York textile firm. They had only one opening. "Can you use a drafting pen?" Perfect! Millie got the job. Her love of color and her ability to mix and accurately match them advanced her to colorist and then designer.

She had to leave that career in 1953 when she married and moved to San Carlos, California. A second marriage sent her to her new home in Los Altos Hills. Millie had a memorable experience in 1988 when she enrolled in the Campus Abroad Program at Foothill College to study in Paris, with a side trip to Florence, Italy.

Millie Gallo joined the Los Altos Art Club in 1992 and the Sunnyvale Art Club in 1994. She volunteered for many organizations including TheaterWorks in Palo Alto and The Bus Barn Theater in Los Altos. In addition to her art and community involvement, Millie loved to dance and was often seen out on the town kicking up her heels and making new friends.

Millie continued her art, dancing and community involvement all the way to the end of her life. On September 19, 2005, while vacationing in Mexico, Millie passed away suddenly.

With such an amazing spirit and joy of life, Millie was an inspiration to everyone she knew and taught many of us lessons on embracing and living life to the fullest.

Artist's Statement

"Art is not just my hobby, it permeates every part of my life. I have this compulsion to create and it can be many things, from oriental style to modern, miniature size to murals."

Millie Gallo, 1999

Millie's artwork comprises a wide range of subjects and styles, executed in various media.

Artist Quote:

"Art is not just my hobby, it permeates every part of my life. I have this compulsion to create and it can be many things,

from oriental style to modern, miniature size to murals."

Millie Gallo, 1999

Updated 02/07/2006 11:04 AM