Bruce Lee Miller

He received wonderful care there from gentle and compassionate staff. They gave loving care to him and generous support to his wife, Maureen O’Higgins and to his son, Douglas Miller, partner Shelby Troub and grandchildren, Layla and Rockford and their mother, Kristen Trierwieler.. We will be forever grateful to them. His internist, Anthony Meier, MD, was with him every step of the way, available to us day and night. We thank him with all our hearts.

Bruce was born on August 5, 1935, in Cleveland, Ohio, to Mildred Meyers and Elmer Miller. Two sisters, Carlene and Judy preceded him in death. His third sister, Sue Tapajna, will miss him dearly. She has been a source of love and support to him throughout his life.

After graduating from high school in Cleveland, Bruce served on the Great Lakes in the Coast Guard for 2 years. He then studied naval architecture at the University of Michigan until he was called away to help support his family when his father suffered a severe fall. He joined the Merchant Marines for a year. At this point he decided to change his college major to Philosophy and graduated with a PhD from Case Western Reserve University in Ohio.

In 1967 he joined the department of philosophy at Michigan State University, where he taught until his retirement in 2000. Retirement freed him to pursue his long-time passion for working with wood, making beautiful furniture and sculptures and even a Venetian boat. Venice, Italy was a place dear to his heart, where we have Italian family. He joined a rowing club and learned to row like a gondolier. Back here in Lansing, he would take friends and family for rides on the Grand River in his Venetian boat.

Bruce was a man of many parts. In addition to his beautiful work in wood, he was a gourmet cook and loved entertaining friends and family with his delicious homemade pastas and more. He had a rich and varied University career, serving as grievance officer, chairman of the Philosophy department, leading the transition to semesters from quarters, and as a founding member of the Medical Humanities department.

A celebration of Bruce’s life for friends and family will be held at a later date.