Virginia Pillsbury, passed away peacefully at her home in Lake Forest, California on November 8, just two days before her 90th birthday.

Virginia was born in Colorado and grew up on the Big M cattle ranch, riding a horse to a one room school house. She earned her BA from the University of Colorado, including a transformative year at the Sorbonne, and later achieved her MA from the University of Michigan. Virginia was a proud member of Phi Beta Kappa and a passionate fan of both Colorado and U of M football teams.

Relocating to Michigan, Virginia embarked on a distinguished career in education. At the St. Clair County Community College, she served as the Department Head of Foreign Languages and Community Services. Her passion for cultural exchange led her to develop faculty exchanges with colleges in Russia and Kazakhstan, fostering global connections.

Virginia's leadership extended beyond education. She was elected to the Board of Trustees at Port Huron Hospital, where she dedicated 10 years of service. As the first and only woman Chairperson of the Board, Virginia spearheaded initiatives such as the Quality Assurance Program and the introduction of Open-Heart Surgery, leaving an indelible mark on the not-for-profit community hospital.

Her commitment to healthcare continued as a member of the Board of Trustees for Blue Water Health. Virginia's impact reached statewide as she was elected to the Michigan Health and Hospital Association State Board. Serving as Chair of the Governance Committee, she played a pivotal role in developing member education and organizing development seminars.

In 1996, Virginia and her husband retired to San Clemente, seeking respite from the snow. Far from slowing down, she dedicated herself to volunteering at San Clemente Hospital and joined the Women's Guild. She served on the board for approximately fourteen years, many of those years on the Saddleback Memorial Foundation San Clemente Board of Directors. Virginia proudly chaired the Scholarship Committee.

Several years ago, Virginia moved to a beautiful retirement community in Lake Forest. Once again, she embraced the move, made friends and got involved in life at Freedom Village. She spoke at recruiting events, helped organize employee scholarships, and had a very busy social life. Virginia loved to share baked goods and her famous Manhattans.

Virginia is pre-deceased by her parents, Arthur and Virginia Miller, her brother and sister-in-law, Frank and Joyce Miller, and her husband, Charles Frances (Fran) Pillsbury, Jr.

Virginia is survived by her children, Chad Pillsbury and Leona Kassoff, and their spouses Debbie and Jory. Virginia also leaves behind beautiful grandchildren, Audrey, Maya, Sasha and his wife Andrea.

Virginia Pillsbury's legacy lives on through her tireless contributions to education, healthcare, and community service. She will be dearly missed by family, friends, and the countless lives she touched.

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