Madeleine Zillmer

Born 6.25.1923 (Vienna, Austria, Europe) – Died 9.25.2016 (Collingswood, NJ, USA)

International Figure Skater, Olympic Coach, Physicist, Wife, Mother, Friend.

Madeleine Magdalena Maria Theresia Josefine Müller was born on June 25th, 1923, in Vienna, Austria, to parents Arthur and Josefine. Affectionately known as Mom, Mädi, Omi, and Gragga, Madeleine would have an extraordinary life as a world-class athlete, an Olympic coach, a physicist, and great friend to her community in South Jersey and Essex Hunt Club, Peapack, NJ. Mädi was charming, positive, lively, and fun. She led an international life of glamor, sports, and travel. Madeleine died peacefully at United Methodist Communities at Collingswood, N.J., USA, on September 25th, 2016, at the age of 93.

In 1929, Madeleine entered Public Grammar School in Vienna and in 1933 she passed the entrance exam for the private Realgymnasium. Madeleine was a gifted student and at the age of ten began tutoring her peers in mathematics and physics, and would do so for the next eleven years. In 1941, she graduated from the Gymnasium (Austrian high-school) and entered mandatory labor service during WWII.

In 1942 she enrolled in the University of Vienna and would earn her Doctoral Degree in Physics in 1946. Her Doctoral Dissertation was entitled The Effects of High Electricity in Vacuum. She would be one of the first women to have graduated with a doctoral degree, not only in Physics but also from the University of Vienna. Later she would go on to teach high school and college physics for over six years. Madeleine would collect her data for her dissertation in the field where she studied lightning at Zell am See, near Salzburg. It is at Zell am See that Madeleine met her to-be husband David Zillmer at an ice-skating rink. Madeleine was then married to David (USMA Class of ’44, West Point, NY) in a June 13rd, 1947 ceremony in Vienna. They would be married for over 65 years. LT COL David Zillmer passed away on October 12, 2012 at the age of 93 and was interred in West Point cemetery.

Madeleine would also become one of Europe’s great figure skaters of her time. Her amateur figure skating experience included being a Gold Medalist of Austria, twice runner-up in Austrian Senior Ladies National Championships, and placing in international competitions. Under German Nazi occupation she would be the German Junior National Champion at the famous Berliner Sportpalast in 1940 and in 1942. She studies ballet and choreography under the Vienna State Opera’s Prima Ballerina, the chief female dancer. From 1944 to 1950 she became a Professional Skater at the Vienna Ice Revue were she was a soloist skater performing throughout Europe. An excerpt from an Italian newspaper in 1950 captures Madeleine’s charm on the ice:

“By 9:30 pm the ice skating arena was filled to capacity when the tall and powerful, but graceful and elegant Viennese skater Madeleine Müller took to the, now melting, ice. She began with her performance ‘Mexican Tornado’ and with her authentic stylized costume flew across the ice in a dizzying array of high and low pirouettes that were accompanied by rapid rhythmic dance steps and a seemingly risky series of lively athletic jumps. After the program she received a standing ovation and followed up with a dance entitled ‘Czardas.’ It was a once in a lifetime presentation on the ice. An evening which Bozen, Italy, will never forget.” Dolomitten Tageblatt der Sütiroler, Monday 23rd of January 1950 (Italian Newspaper).

Madeleine retired from professional skating in 1951 and for the next fifty years would become a successful coach in Austria, Germany, Czechoslovakia, and the USA. From 1951 to 1953 Madeleine would teach ice-skating and German at the USMA at a time when her husband David was on the faculty at the Academy. On December 15th, 1952, daughter Bibi was born at USMA, West Point. In 1953 Madeleine became a Naturalized Citizen of the United States of America and would remain an American Patriot until her death.

Most notably Madeleine coached her daughter Eileen “Bibi” Christina to three German National Championships, three top 10 European Championships, one Top 10 World Championship, and the 1968 Winter Olympics in Grenoble, France (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eileen_Zillmer). During this time, (1962-1976), Madeleine lived and coached at the Olympic Figure Skating Training Center in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany. Bibi’s 9th place finish in the 1969 World Championships at the Broadmoor in Colorado Springs represents the culmination of her coaching career.

In 1976, and after a life of international travel during which her son Eric was born in Tokyo, Japan on August 13th, 1956, David and Mädi settled in Cherry Hill, NJ. Eric would go on to become a psychology professor and athletic director at Drexel University (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eric_Zillmer). From1979 to 2006 Madeleine continued coaching figure skating at the Essex Hunt Club, Peapack, NJ, where she taught many talented skaters and was the team coach for the gold medal winning synchronized skating team “The Vixens.” Essex Hunt Club established an award in her name in 2003. Madeleine was also a member of the Professional Skaters Guild of America. Madeleine continued to pursue athletics and became a successful and active master swimmer in Breaststroke and Butterfly representing Cherry Valley Swim Club in Cherry Hill, NJ. Between 1976-1996 she was a National Master Championship Gold and Silver Medalist, and in 1985 was the United States Swimming Long Distance Champion.

Madeleine lived a life full of vitality and energy. She was one of the most positive people one could be around. She was fiercely independent, a champion of women’s rights, and elegantly fought discrimination in her academic and athletic career in Europe. She was a loyal and loving wife, mother, and grand and great-grandmother. She will be remembered as an extraordinary person who touched many people’s lives and did so with authenticity and a smile.

Her loving family, daughter Bibi, son Eric, grandson Christopher Jr. (CJ), son-in-law Christopher Sr., granddaughter Kanya, and great-grandson Summit, and Summit’s father James survive Dr. Madeleine Zillmer.

A memorial service will be held on Tuesday, October 18th, 2016, from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm (Tribute @ Noon) at BLAKE-DOYLE Funeral Home, 226 West Collings Ave, Collingswood, NJ 08108, 856-854-2570. Madeleine will be interred at the United States Military Academy Cemetery, West Point, New York, on Wednesday, November 2nd, 2016.