Mildred G. Unfried

Mildred Katherine (Gartz) Unfried, 83 of Hartford, passed away at home from pancreatic cancer on August 19, 2025. Born December 21, 1941 in Altadena, CA to Mildred Georgia (Johnson) Gartz and William August Gartz, the family moved to McAllen, TX in the Rio Grande Valley when Mildred was seven, following her father’s death from mustard gas exposure incurred while serving in WWI. As a nurse, Mildred’s mother raised Mildred and her sister, while also caring for her parents. When Mildred was in 9th grade, her mother moved the family to Houston, TX to work at MD Anderson Hospital. Mildred attended Rice University and graduated from the University of Houston in 1964 with a double major in mathematics and chemistry, and a minor in physics. After graduation, Mildred taught middle school math, before joining the Department of Defense Overseas Schools in pursuit of her love of teaching and travel. She taught in Okinawa, Japan; Keflavik, Iceland; and Goose Bay, Newfoundland & Labrador, Canada; and earned her master’s in education from the University of Oregon through a National Science Foundation scholarship. While teaching in Iceland, Mildred met her future husband, Douglas, an officer in the Navy, in the ward room on the naval base. They were married in Simsbury, CT in June of 1973 and settled in Hartford. Mildred taught math and served as Department Chair at East Hampton High School. She left teaching to care for her mother and mother-in-law and earned a second master’s degree in gerontology from St. Joseph’s College in West Hartford. When she returned to teaching, she taught math at The Hebrew High School of New England, and was an Adjunct Professor at the University of Hartford. She retired in 2015 to help raise her grandchildren and was very active in their lives and school, serving on the Board of Trustees at the Montessori School of Greater Hartford. She is survived by her husband of 52 years, Douglas Unfried; her daughter Gretchen Unfried-English, son-in-law, Alan English, and her three grandchildren Everett, George, and Catherine English all of Hartford, CT; her brother-in-law and sister-in-law Steve and Amy Unfried (Wilson, WY); nieces Lynne Bates (TX), Karin Goodfellow (TX), Lydia Unfried (NY) and Juliet Unfried (WY); nephews Marc Beddoe (MS) and Thomas Unfried (WA); ten great and great-great nieces and nephews; and fellow grandparent, Mark English, of Cooleemee, NC. In addition to her parents, she is predeceased by her sister Dr. Helen G. Beddoe of Waveland, MS. The family would like to thank all the friends and neighbors who supported Mildred these last six months with rides, meals, care and support; with special appreciation to Rebecca and Dr. Shawn London, Annelieke and Dr. Peter Schauer, Dr. Florence Chan, Dr. Timothy Hong, the nursing and PCA team of CB2 at Hartford Hospital, and the Hartford Health Care Hospice team. Memorial contributions can be made to the Montessori School of Greater Hartford (MSGH, 141 N. Main St., West Hartford, CT, 06107). A service of remembrance will be held at Grace Lutheran Church, 46 Woodland St, Hartford, CT on Saturday, November 15th, 2025 at 12 noon.

Mildred G. Unfried

December 21, 1941 - August 19, 2025