Harriett Elizabeth Milnes passed away peacefully at her home in Denver on March 9, 2024 with her husband, David Conger, and daughter, Eleanor Rodriguez, at her side after a brave fight against pancreatic cancer.

She was born on January 18, 1949, in Bellevue, just outside of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to Kathryn and William Milnes. After graduating from Wellesley College, Harriett moved to San Francisco where she earned a master's degree from Mills College and began her long career as a music educator.

Harriett moved to New Haven, Connecticut in 1978 and served as the director of the Duke Ellington Oral History project at Yale University. She then worked in the New Haven Public Schools for almost 25 years, teaching band, jazz band, orchestra, chorus and general music, and producing numerous musical shows and concerts. Harriett ultimately led the music department conceiving of and putting together special projects, like the Duke Ellington Birthday Celebrations and city-wide elementary and middle school concerts. Harriett retired as a middle school assistant principal, creating unique programs like a soccer team for refugee students. After moving to Denver in 2004, Harriett founded and led a Suzuki violin program at Harrington Elementary School, teaching over 250 students.

Harriett's passion for music extended beyond her professional career. While she started learning to play the flute as a middle school band student, Harriett eventually learned almost every instrument. She played alto saxophone in an all-women's jazz band, frequently performed at the Park Hill Congregational Church, and was an arranger and proud second mandolinist in the Denver Mandolin Orchestra. She also loved community singing and making music with friends and family. A special highlight for her was singing circle songs in workshops led by Bobby McFerrin. She was a lifelong fan of the Grateful Dead and maintained a huge collection of memorabilia. In addition to attending over a hundred Grateful Dead shows, Harriett loved recorded and live music that reflected her broad and eclectic musical tastes.

Music was just one way that Harriett lived a life full of zest and exuberance. Other hobbies included reading, sewing, quilting, golfing, cheering on her beloved Denver Nuggets, planning menus, hosting dinner parties, and designing her garden. She was politically active and a champion for social justice, from organizing the student strike against the Vietnam War to volunteering for the Women's Homelessness Initiative and supporting a local refugee family here in Denver for over a decade. After being diagnosed with type 1 diabetes over 40 years ago, Harriett joined the DCCT/EDIC study, which impacted how diabetes is treated all over the world.

Above all, Harriett was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend to all of those whom she had chosen to be part of her extended family.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in honor of Harriett may be made to Park Hill Congregational United Church of Christ and Friends of Guéoul .

Friends are also invited to join our "We Love Harriett!" team for the PanCAN PurpleStride walk in Denver on April 27th.

A memorial service will be held on June 1, 2024, 10:30 am at Park Hill Congregational UCC 2600 Leyden St, Denver, CO 80207 .