In Memory: Mildred C. Amico, Age 91
Mildred Amico passed away peacefully in her sleep at home in Rye, NY on September 6, 2024 at the age of 91.
Mildred was born in Brooklyn on November 17th, 1932, the daughter of Francis Cassidy and Winifred Tierney. A graduate of James Madison High School in Brooklyn, she then received her RN degree from the Brooklyn Hospital School of Nursing. She worked as a nurse at Brooklyn Hospital where she met and married her husband of 51 years, the late Dr. Joseph C. Amico.
Together Mildred and Joe raised five sons in Brooklyn. Paul (Shelley Capurso) Amico of Shrewsbury, MA; Joseph (Madelon Ostendorp) Amico of Foothill Ranch, CA; Christopher (Kim Coulson) Amico of Prospect, KY; Matthew Amico of Pompano Beach, FL and the late Phillip Amico, formerly of Princeton, NJ.
After raising her sons, Mildred returned to the workforce as a Hospital Administrator, serving as Patient Representative at the Brooklyn Hospital for 20 years before retiring to start a new vocation that incorporated her life-long avocation for food and cooking.
For years Mildred embraced the love of cooking she received from her grandmother and taught cooking, took cooking classes, and travelled on culinary-themed vacations to her favorite destinations in France, Italy and Asia. She became friends with James Beard, the famous culinary author and teacher. When Jim Beard passed away, she helped organize fundraising events with friends who were starting the James Beard Foundation. Eventually she joined the Foundation as the full-time Program Director, organizing dinners at the Beard House and other events to promote American cooking and cuisine. At her retirement, she was recognized as Director Emeritus of House Programming. Her devotion to the young chef community, poising them for success as rising stars, and helping to launch the careers of many well-known talents in the culinary and media business, were some of her proudest accomplishments.
In addition to her four surviving sons, Mildred is survived by nine grandchildren whom she adored – Moniek Veltman Amico (Gerloff), Ellen Amico, Lauren Amico, Nicole Amico, Natalie Amico, Christopher Amico Jr., Matthew Amico II, Ava Amico and Zoe Amico.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 9:30 AM on November 16th at the Church of St. Savior, 611 Eighth Avenue, Brooklyn; burial with her husband Joe and son Phillip will then take place at Holy Cross Cemetery, 3620 Tilden Avenue, Brooklyn. A reception to celebrate her life and 92nd birthday will follow at Marco Polo Restaurant, 345 Court Street, Brooklyn. Please contact a family member if you wish to attend the reception.
Funeral arrangements are being handled by the Graham Funeral Home of Rye, NY.
Memorial donations may be made to the James Beard Foundation, 167 West 12th Street, NY, NY 10011.
Mildred’s family wishes to express its gratitude to Gail Sammy, Illicsha Jeremiah, Dawn Remekie, Simone Mcintosh, Beverly Ricketts and Shirlette Nkosi for their care and support over the past several years. Their generous care allowed Mildred to live in comfort and dignity in her own home until her passing.
