Vita Milisauskas

1939 - 2026

Milisauskas, Vita (nee Kriauciunaite)

Aug 22, 1939 - Mar 16, 2026

Passed away at Harris Hill Nursing Facility in Williamsville, New York as her daughter Aida Milisauskas was holding her hand. She was 86 years old. She died due to complications with a broken hip. She is survived by her daughter Aida and predeceased by her husband Sarunas. She was born on August 22nd, 1939 in Panevezys Lithuania. Her parents were village teachers. While she lived in Lithuania, she and her family members escaped from Lithuania as the Russian forces were taking over Lithuania for a second time. Vita's parents were victims of ethnic cleansing, persecution and disinformation. During the first occupation, someone accused her parents of being anti-Soviet. Her parents were warned that the Soviet police were scheduled to arrive a certain day. Therefore, her parents hid in the forest that night and day to avoid being sent to Siberia. Vita and her two older siblings were left alone in the house with a maid as the Soviets searched the house for her parents. Vita and her family members fled to Germany where she, her mother and her siblings lived in the American sector of a displaced persons camp. Her father was taken for forced labor by the Germans. Vita, her mother and her siblings emigrated to the U.S. in 1950. Sadly, her father got lost in the war. Vita, her mother and her two older siblings lived in Chicago. Vita skipped three grades in elementary school and high school, causing her to graduate from high school at age 16. She attended The University of Illinois of Urbana Champagne with a degree in microbiology. She received a masters degree in oncology from the University of Buffalo where she took courses at Roswell Park. She received all A's for her masters degree. Vita worked her entire life in basic medical research. She published a number of papers in immunology in prestigious journals. She started her career at the University of Illinois. She also worked at Ohio State and the University of Michigan. In 1970, she moved to Buffalo where she worked at the University of Buffalo. She was involved in N-K research. A Nobel Prize winner recognized her work in his acceptance speech. She served as a research scientist for over 43 years. She retired in 2013. She loved taking walks, reading, gardening and cooking. She was a talented gourmet cook who was acknowledged by all her colleagues. One of her favorite recipes was duck a l'orange. Services were private. In lieu of flowers, donations may be given to Roswell Park where Vita took classes as a graduate student in oncology at UB. Arrangements by AMIGONE FUNERAL HOME, INC. (716) 836-6500. Share condolences at www.AMIGONE.com