Mildred Yatron

Millie Yatron, a 14th-generation American, active member in the Daughters of the American Revolution, and widow of long-term U.S. Rep. Gus Yatron (D-Pa.), died suddenly and unexpectedly from sepsis on July 19, 2009, in Fairfax, Va.

She was 81.

Mrs. Yatron was a student at Kutztown State University, earning her degree in education, when she met fellow student Gus Yatron, whom she married in 1948. Together they formed a lifelong partnership in pursuit of public service.

Echoing the commitment of her early forebear, Samuel Wilbur, who arrived in Colonial America in 1622 and supported the establishment of America's first public school in Boston in 1635, Mrs. Yatron taught English in the Reading public schools, supported programs that strengthened public education, and valued the community benefits of a better educated society.

Her ability as a writer became indispensable to her husband throughout his long political career. During his years of service, culminating in 24 years as a member of the U.S. Congress, it was for her pen that her husband would reach when a particularly sensitive issue required a public statement. His views expressed in her words formed the foundation of her life contribution to his political career.

Following Congressman Yatron's death in 2003, Mrs. Yatron returned to the metropolitan Washington, D.C. area, where she lived near her daughter, Theana Kastens, in Fairfax Station, Va. She led an active life in Washington during her final years, as a member of a weekly poetry-writing group, and at events sponsored by the Fairfax Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution and The Congressional Club in Washington, D.C.

She also traveled extensively with her daughter to Europe and to Cape Ann on Boston's North Shore, where she enjoyed studying astrology charts, observing the night sky over the North Atlantic, and reading about America's early seafaring history and about advances taking place in Boston's vast medical research community. One grandson, Douglass, suffers from Type 1 diabetes, and she lived in hope of a cure by supporting the Harvard Stem Cell Research Institute in Boston.

Just a few weeks ago, in one of their long daily conversations about people and things, and before Mrs. Yatron's short illness, her daughter asked her how she would someday want to be remembered. "As a good human being, holding liberal ideals, proud of both of my children, ready to help anyone and who excluded no one," recalls her daughter.

She was a member of St. Sophia Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Washington, D.C., and through her son, Judge George C. Yatron of Reading, SS. Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church in Wyomissing.

Mrs. Yatron was born in Reading, the second of five children to Thomas and Kathryn Wilbur Menzies. Her sisters, June and Margaret, predeceased her. Her brothers, James and Richard, reside in Manassas, Va.

In addition to her daughter, Theana, and her son, George, and his wife, Shirleen, survivors include six grandchildren: Royal F. Kastens III, who serves as personal assistant to Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.), and Konstantine G.Y. Kastens, Christina L. Yatron, Douglass M. Kastens, Alexander G. Yatron and Theana N. Kastens, all of whom are students.

The Bean Funeral Home in Reading is handling all arrangements and Fr. Spyridon Papademetriou of SS. Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church, Wyomissing, will officiate at a private graveside service at Charles Evans Cemetery, Reading, where Mrs. Yatron will be laid to rest beside her late husband. The funeral is private, at the convenience of the family.

An additional memorial service will he held at a later date in the chapel at Heatherwood Retirement Community in Burke, Va., where Mrs. Yatron leaves many friends.

In lieu of flowers, Mrs. Yatron left a request that donations be made to the Harvard Stem Cell Research Institute, 42 Church St., Cambridge, MA 02138, 617-496-4050, hsci@harvard.edu.