Who Was Gloria?
Gloria Francesca Milich was a philanthropist, community leader, and beloved family matron. Gloria believed that education was a gateway to opportunity and a template to managing life. She created opportunities for herself and others, and believed education created sustainable pathways to social justice, equity, and new opportunities. She was aware of how education improved her own situation despite insurmountable odds. Gloria and husband EJ Nosser provided access to education as a means to support one's life journey with lasting results.
Gloria's lifelong dedication to enriching the world through education did not go unnoticed. In 2019, the Rotary International Foundation awarded her with the Paul Harris Fellow award for "tangible and significant assistance for furthering the better understanding and friendly relations among the peoples of the world."
Whether the nuns at San Demetrio and Saint Vincent's, or the Jesuits of Saint John's and Seattle University, or the Educators at Centenary College and Lynn University, Gloria spoke with gratitude for these leaders, institutions, and educational pathways that facilitated her well-being and that of her family.
Gloria's Childhood
Gloria Francesca was born on May 18, 1934, on the Dalmatian coast in Zara, Dalmatia. Gloria and her two sisters, Antonia and Diana, often recalled the joys of their childhood, navigating their ancient seaside home, strolling the infamous Rivas, enjoying the nearby Piazza, or simply ‘polishing the marble’ stone streets.
Adjacent to the Milich home was the magnificent Collegio di San Demetrio where the Sisters (Suore) of Mantelatte took a lead role in the girls' education and early formation. As the tensions of World War II ensued, the Milich girls immigrated to the United States, where they would unite with their father, Frank.
Living in America
Once in the United States, Gloria attended the equally splendid Saint Vincent's Academy where she was active in the Sodality Society and Debate Club; no small feat for a young lady learning English. Gloria later went on to Nursing School in New Orleans, she married soon thereafter, and gave birth to three boys. As situations changed, Gloria worked as a single mother at a bank and department store so she could entrust her boys to a Jesuit education.
In 1969, Gloria’s former mother-in-law introduced her to Dr. EJ Nosser, a trailblazing Chiropractor from Vicksburg. Gloria and EJ married, creating a new family union, and joining their extended Milich-Nosser families. The dynamic duo was happily married for over 40 years.
Over the Years
Gloria was an active member of the Saint John Berchmans’ school and board. From the 1980s to the 1990s, Gloria and husband EJ Nosser proudly hosted exchange students attending local high schools and universities. In the early 90’s, as tensions in the Balkans turned from conflict to war, the couple worked with educational and non-governmental organizations to provide much needed support for dozens of families across the region with life-saving resources to survive and thrive in the United States.
An unacknowledged refugee herself, Gloria found refuge in educational leadership. She shared how "education gave me a path through justice and to equity and opportunity in the United States”.
She would light up when reflecting on her mentors, teachers and community, and acknowledged that her success was only possible through perseverance, hard work, and dedication to learning.
Over the years, Gloria would spearhead language and book clubs, and in 1976, she traveled back to her hometown Zara, now Zadar. Reinvigorated by her amazing life journey, Gloria relearned Italian, the Dalmatian dialect, and contemporary Croatian to reconnect with cultures and languages she once knew but set aside to adapt to life in America.
In 2003, Gloria took on a leadership role as executive consultant with an import company that sold unique specialty food products from the Adriatic region. In her role, Gloria bridged gaps between small regional farmers and American business, helping farmers with modern distribution models while exposing Americans to fine specialty foods from little known regions.
As a result, Gloria was recognized by the Italian and Croatian governments for her contribution to community development as a ‘champion for a just, inclusive, and sustainable world’.
In 2019, the Rotary International Foundation awarded Gloria with the Paul Harris Fellow award for "tangible and significant assistance for furthering the better understanding and friendly relations among the peoples of the world.”