David Vaughn Milligan

1940 – 2025

Dr. David Milligan passed away peacefully at his home in Monterey, California on May 9th, at the age of 84. Born in Evanston, Illinois, he was the son of the late Robert L. Milligan and Alice Connell Milligan and brother to Warren and Bob Milligan. After graduating from Evanston High School, Dave went on to earn his B.S degree in chemistry from Princeton University, graduating summa cum laude and as a member of Phi Beta Kappa. Dave received his M.S. and Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry from the University of Illinois, supported by a NASA fellowship.

Dave began his distinguished career at 3M Company in 1967, followed by key management roles with Litton Medical Systems in its Dental Division. He joined Abbott in 1979, where he spent 17 years leading Research and Development for Diagnostic Products and later the Pharmaceutical Division. He retired in 1996 as Senior Vice President and Chief Scientific Officer.

Following his retirement, Dave remained active in the healthcare and biotech sectors. He joined Bay City Capital, a venture investment firm, and served on the boards of numerous private and publicly held companies, continuing to share his deep knowledge and passion for science and innovation. He also served on the Chemical Sciences Leadership Council at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and was a member of the Condell Medical Center Governing Board.

Dave married his high school sweetheart, Susan Lind, and together they built a beautiful life over 64 years of marriage. They raised four children: John, Mary, Scott, and Christine. They resided in Minnesota and New York before settling in Libertyville, Illinois, and later in Lake Forest. After his retirement, they purchased a second home in Monterey, where they spent their winters and eventually made their full-time residence.

Dave lived with passion and purpose. Whether diving into his business ventures, growing his classic car collection, cooking holiday meals, or traveling with his friends and family, he approached life with energy and joy. Dave had a curious mind and a tireless spirit that showed in everything he did.

He is survived by his beloved wife, Susan; their children and spouses John and Kathie Milligan of Hillsborough, CA; Mary and Tim Funk of Steamboat Springs, CO, and Lake Forest, IL; Scott and Heather Milligan of Lake Forest, IL; and Christine and Paul LeFort of Los Angeles, CA; as well as 11 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren. And yes, one cherished Mercedes SL55.

His love of education and gratitude for the support he received inspired him to establish a fellowship for graduate students in chemistry. Donations may be made in his honor to The Dr. David V. Milligan Graduate Fellowship Fund at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Simply go to his personalized giving page at the University of Illinois at https://www.givecampus.com/campaigns/63837/donations/new and follow the instructions.