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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
HONORING THE LIFE OF MILDRED "MILLIE" JOYCE CLEMON CRUZAT
WHEREAS, on February 17th, 1927, Mildred "Millie" Joyce Clemon Cruzat was Born into humble beginnings to Sevar Clemon and Florence Richardson Clemon. Millie was the third of four daughters; and
WHEREAS, Millie credits her older sister MaryAnn with teaching her the fundamentals of ballet as well as inspiring her to pursue a career as a dancer. Millie's sister Bella, known affectionately as "little mother," and the second oldest, introduced Millie to her husband, Teddy. Sevara, the youngest sister, shared a dancing career with Millie in New York. They were a close-knit family and were known to friends as "those Clemon Sisters; and
WHEREAS, Millie embarked to New York City to pursue a career as a professional dancer after completing two years at Highland Park Junior College in Detroit, Michigan. Millie supported herself working as a sales associate at Bloomingdale's by day and attending dance classes at night at the American School of Ballet at Carnegie Hall; and
WHEREAS, Millie eventually landed a role in several productions including; Larry Steele's "Shuffle Along", "Smart Affairs", and "Spider Burkes' Television Show. Millie performed with the likes of Brock Peters, Lena Horn, and Harry Belafonte. Millie actively practiced and perfected the attributes of wisdom, discernment, and frugality, which allowed her to become a self-sufficient woman; and
WHEREAS, on September 11, 1954, Millie married Edward "Teddy" Cruzat, in Detroit, Michigan. The couple subsequently moved to Chicago where Millie became a lifelong resident. Millie and Teddy welcomed Sevara Pia in 1956 and Edward Pedro II, or "Tuffy" in 1958, and Liza in 1963 to complete their family; and
WHEREAS, in 1975, at the age of 50, the Joseph Holmes Dance Theater asked Millie to join their troupe where she was once again the "lone sheep". Tepid but determined, Millie inserted herself into this young, up and coming successful...
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