Keith Milkovich originally was an elder while in his mid 20s in the Barrington congregation.
He moved to the Arlington Heights congregation at the beginning of 1980.
He probably always had the ambition of being a CO because he really kissed up to and watched his attitude and behavior around the COs, especially one, William Kolandros, an alleged Greek speaker--he knew at least some Greek words.
Kolandros was the most interesting COs of that period. His talks were better than all the others and he had a terrific speaking voice. He was fat and married to a much younger (37, him in his late 50s) woman, a sweet-face but always unhappy looking woman named Roselyn (sp, pronounced Roz-eh-lyn). I remember him talking about her feelings about opting out of having children for the sake of the circuit work). I do not know if they ever had a baby some time after the period in which I knew them or if Sister Kolandros had be "fixed". Getting fixed was a not-frequent but regularly occurring thing in those days. The End was so close. LOL
Whenever the kolandros' were in town Keith and Mary were on exaggeratedly good behavior. It was funny, they were like different people, not as boisterous, pushy, fast-talkin', or quick with the snappy put-down come-backs.
Many years later when I heard Milkovich became a CO it made sense.
If any of you know the fate of Bill and Roselyn Kolandros I would find it interesting.
Orthodox Christianity historically was always opposed to contraception, including medicinal and surgical. It was only in the mid 20th century that many if not most of the greater protestant denominations caved on the position and gave approval to it. Many people today assume it is just a Catholic thing.
Another thing about the Milkoviches, they were continually preassuring people to get married, I mean particular persons. There were a lot of couples who got married at the push of the Keith and Mary. They were always telling singles to contact this or that other singles person of the opposite sex. The hilarious thing is that most of the couples they matched wound up getting divorced. Disaster after disaster without accountability. Of course it's the couples' faults too. But everything Milkovich would advise people on the elders and the CO would back up regardless of how stupid.
Throughout their run, Milkovich got cut a great deal of slack because often a congregation would be a bit quiet and lethargic and he and Mary's personalities would inject a bit of energy the elders felt it was lacking. That was true.
For years the Milkoviches were arm in arm with a couple they matched, the Wagers, who eventually divorced. The guy dropped out of sight while the woman re-married, to an elder named Mauer.
Milkovich and Mary mentored a lot of other pioneers--Oh by the way they themselves were pioneers all this time.
Before I sign off for now, I have a question.
In a Youtube posting of WT video about Gilead, I could swear Mary Milkovich appears. But in it she speaks in a thick foreign accent!!! Tell me, is that her? I would post the link, but I cannot find it. Sorry.
Cheers.
