Milly Iris
SOUTH ORANGE — Longtime South Orange resident Milly Iris, a founding member of the board of governors of South Orange Performing Arts Center and benefactor of the Herb & Milly Iris Gallery at SOPAC, died Oct. 24 in Haddonfield at age 82.
Iris owned her own gallery, Whichcraft studio for the selective i in South Orange, and loved to collect art. She also owned galleries in Millburn and Long Beach Island, according to a release from SOPAC. The Herb & Milly Iris Gallery at SOPAC brings contemporary art to the community, providing artists with opportunities to reach new audiences. Along with her husband, Iris had a passion for promoting artists whose work she thought worthy of attention and support.
“Milly was instrumental in ensuring that SOPAC became a venue for the visual as well as the performing arts,” SOPAC Board Chairman Tony Leitner said in the release. “We celebrate the Herb & Milly Iris Gallery and the gifted artists whose works we have been able to display.”
Iris is survived by two daughters, Roree Iris-Williams and Kerry Iris; sons-in-law Peter Iris-Williams and Eric Kassoff; and five grandchildren.
Funeral services were held Oct. 29 at Temple Sharey Tefilo-Israel in South Orange. Memorial contributions may be made to SOPAC, 1 SOPAC Way, South Orange, NJ 07079; the Iris Teen Tzedekah Fund, c/o Jewish Community Foundation of Greater MetroWest NJ, 901 Route 10, Whippany, NJ 07981; or The Iris Family Early Childhood Education Center at Temple Sharey Tefilo-Israel, 432 Scotland Road, South Orange, NJ 07079.