Myron Leonard Miller

Myron L. “Mike” Miller, of Ithaca, NY, formerly of Lexington, MA, Brookline, MA and Los Angeles, CA (March 18, 1927-January 18, 2018). Orphaned at age 4, in the depths of the Great Depression, he flourished despite inauspicious beginnings, and his zest for life remained extraordinary to the end.

At 16, Mike was welding warships at the Boston Naval Shipyard; at 18, he served in occupied Germany, guarding Nazi prisoners at the Nuremberg Trials. In later years, he became the devoted husband of the former Miriam Smith (1931-1996); father of Kenneth, Jonathan and Peter Miller; grandfather of Will, Ben, Nora Claire, Anna, Leo and Samantha Miller; father-in-law of Julie Ries, Rebecca Nelson and Valerie Marcus; and a beloved teacher of foreign languages to generations of high school and junior high students. He was a man who burst into song at the slightest provocation; adored classical cello and Big Band jazz with equal fervor; devoured the foods of many nations with Rabelaisian gusto; connected with people of every culture with unabashed empathy (often in their native tongue); worked for peace and social justice with buoyant enthusiasm; and showered those close to him with unstinting love.

Services at Levine Chapels, 470 Harvard St., Brookline, MA, on Sunday, January 21 at 10AM. Burial will follow at Westview Cemetery, 520 Bedford St., Lexington. Reception to follow. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the cause of your choice.