Patricia McMillen McMillen

Profile Updated: July 11, 2026

Residence:	Santa Rosa, CA USA

Homepage:	Www.knifelakeworld.com

Occupation:	poet, activist, musician

Children's Names & Year of Birth:	None

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Bio:

Retired from the active practice of law in 1992 (a 40th birthday present to myself) to concentrate on music, writing, travel and community activism. Thirty+ years later: survived COVID21, hunkered down in city of Chicago; dramaturged Two Remain (a Heggie/Scheer opera produced by Chicago Fringe Opera in March 2022); moved to Sonoma County, CA in July 2025; still writing/publishing poetry, newly working on memoir; getting sick, getting well, hanging round the ink well. Also continue to pursue various community/environmentalist** activities as the spirit dictates.

Happiest (2005) business/law memory: negotiating, on behalf of myself and other heirs of my late father, the sale of 1000 acres of farmland near Franklin Grove IL to The Nature Conservancy, and watching TNC turn it back into tallgrass prairie/darksky--complete with bison herd.

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Favorite School Memories:

Oy, the day I found my locker! (I only remember that happening once. Wonder what happened to the stuff I put in there that day?) I vaguely remember the Rotunda, and math class - Dr. Moore - whose lectures on algorithms and exponents come back to me at odd moments. I enjoyed visiting New Trier as an aunt (three grads) much more than actually going there as a student. Transferred to private girls' boarding school after freshman year and on to college after junior year.

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Junior High School Attended:

Skokie

High School Attended: (NTE, NTW, or name of another school)

NTE, Dana Hall School (Wellesley, MA)

Colleges Attended & Degrees:

Brown University, BA 1973
University of Chicago, JD 1983
University of Illinois, MA (Program for Writers, 2005)

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Patricia McMillen McMillen

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Jul 14, 2026 at 4:33 AM

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Jul 11, 2026 at 8:38 PM

hello from the West Coast! I'm homesick af but the move to a gentler climate was necessitated by osteoporosis, traumatic brain injury in 2018, and general curiosity/wanderlust, after spending most of my first 72 years in/around Chicago. Terribly sorry to hear about Bill Hoyt's death a few days ago - a loss to oceanography as well as his friends and family. Courage to all who mourn.

Patricia McMillen McMillen

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Jul 11, 2026 at 8:33 PM

Patricia McMillen McMillen

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Jun 09, 2024 at 11:32 PM

Oh! I haven't posted about my first full-length poetry collection Running Wild (Finishing Line Press, Georgetown KY 2024), now available from the press, Woman Made Gallery and Woodland Pattern in Milwaukee. (And on Amazon for those who indulge.) Working on second collection, What Menopause Is Like, and essays. (Late bloomer haha.)

Patricia McMillen McMillen

Patricia McMillen McMillen has left an In Memory comment for her Profile.

Jun 09, 2024 at 11:02 PM

So sad to learn of John's death--even sadder that I hadn't kept up with his career, which is my loss. May his memory be for a blessing.

Patricia McMillen McMillen

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Jan 08, 2024 at 6:24 PM

Posted on: Jan 08, 2024 at 1:37 AM

Proud to announce my first full-length poetry collection, coming in March from Finishing Line Press. Pre-orders open now discounted through 1/19/24: www.finishinglinepress.com

Patricia McMillen McMillen

Patricia McMillen McMillen has left an In Memory comment for her Profile.

Jul 22, 2022 at 11:23 AM

So very sorry to learn of Bruce's premature death. But what accomplishments! and what joy he brought to friends, family and colleagues! May his memory be for a blessing.

Patty McMillen (ps I joined Temple Sholom in May of this year, so will look forward to making contact with Bruce's widow/son/DIL/grands there)

Patricia McMillen McMillen

Patricia McMillen McMillen posted a message on DUSTY HUMES' Profile.

Jan 11, 2021 at 12:29 AM

happy birthday Dusty! you young thing...I hope you're doing great!

Patricia McMillen McMillen

Patricia McMillen McMillen posted a message.

Aug 30, 2020 at 10:37 AM

Did you know that if you click "Transform" on your profile photo you can rotate the image, and then if you click "Crop" you can distort it so you look like you're reflected in a funhouse mirror? Yes. You. Can. I also uploaded pix of my parents Tom and Nan z"l -- at the farm, now part of TNC's Nachusa Grasslands (Ogle Cty IL); and Mystery Man of Massachusetts, who is not quite anonymous but won't know I've done this for a long, long time. Shalom, peace, salaam to all, Patty

Patricia McMillen McMillen

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Aug 30, 2020 at 10:32 AM