Myriam Schwartz de Medinilla, of Wilmington died on October 7, 2022, after a courageous battle with ovarian cancer. She was 79.
With her unique and endearing accent, Myriam loved storytelling. When she finished a story, she engaged her listeners by substituting the traditional “The End” with one question: “Can you e-my-yeen (imagine)?” The universal response—in English, Spanish, and Spanglish—was a smile.
This rhetorical question serves as the perfect refrain for Myriam’s life.
Born on a small coffee farm in Guatemala in 1943, news of the first-born child of Pia and Max Schwartz traveled via horseback messenger and took three days to be properly registered. This resulted in two—actual and recorded—DOB’s for Myriam. For those who knew her, it only made sense to celebrate her birth not once but twice a year.
At age 12, after her father was exiled during a Guatemalan civil war, Myriam assumed the role of provider and second mother to her five younger siblings, Otto, Iliana, Max, Roberto, and Raquel. She washed and ironed clothes to help make ends meet and took care of her brothers and sisters while her mother worked. Her life-long dedication to her siblings endured till the end; she remained the ever-vigilant mom, even in their adult lives.
When not working or caring for her siblings, Myriam loved sports and learning. Towering over her teammates at an incredible 5’6” (by Guatemalan standards,) Myriam excelled at basketball and was known as “El Tanque” (The Tank) for her ability to protect the ball. That protective spirit extended well beyond the basketball court. And though fierce, she was also charming, compassionate, and simply lovely. So, it was no surprise when she was crowned her school’s Homecoming Queen. Of course, she was smart, too. Excelling academically, she followed her dream and became a biology teacher.
Myriam’s mother introduced her to Otto Raul Medinilla—a driven and studious young man—who turned out to be the love of her life. They wed in 1965 and eventually welcomed their daughter, Vivian and son, Otto Jr.
In 1972, Myriam said goodbye to her family in Guatemala and with her then-six- and three-year-old children, traveled to the U.S. to join her husband, who had begun his surgical internship in Baltimore. They soon relocated to Philadelphia and completed their family with their youngest child, Sandra.
Though her priority was to her children, Myriam loved a challenge. With humility and grace, she received many awards recognizing her business acumen selling beauty products. She not only taught herself to speak English and teach Spanish, but she also learned to drive a stick-shift car (and remained undeterred even when her kids declined her initial invites to get in the car once she obtained her license).
Delaware became the Medinillas’ home 42 years ago. Working in tandem with her husband, Myriam’s business savvy contributed to the success of the medical practice, which she managed with precision for more than 30 years. Upon retirement, Myriam began taking classes at OLLI (UD’s Osher Lifelong Learning Institute) where she continued to devote her time as a Spanish teacher and served as an OLLI Council Member. In her spare time, she learned to play the ukulele; she loved to jam out to “You Are My Sunshine” with The Ukelele Orchestra of OLLI. Rock on, Mimi!
Myriam was preceded in death by her father and mother, Max Schwartz and Piedad Izquierdo.
She is survived by her husband, Otto R. Medinilla, M.D., and three children, Hon. Vivian L. Medinilla, Otto R. Medinilla, Jr., PA-C, (wife Joann), and Sandra P. Medinilla, M.D.
Known best as “Lita” (abuelita) she is survived by her grandchildren Victoria (husband Bennett Procter) and Alexis Longo, Otto Jake and Isabel Medinilla, Rocco Rapposelli, Xavier, Theo, Remi and Sydney Meyer. She is also survived by her five brothers and sisters, their spouses, and too-many-to-name loving nieces, nephews, and grandnieces/grandnephews.
Myriam imagined and accomplished. She leaves a legacy of never-ending kindness and unwavering commitment to her family and friends.
In lieu of flowers, Myriam would have wished that contributions be made to OLLI, 2700 Pennsylvania Avenue, Wilmington, DE 19806 (olli.udel.edu).
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