Constance Giordano Miller

Born January 5, 1941 in San Rafael, CA and passed away, April 15, 2012 in Encino, CA. Connie survived a cancer operation two years ago, and continued to lead her usual active life until about a month ago. She was in the ICU at Providence St. Joseph Medical Center for slightly longer than one week before her passing. Before being fully sedated she spoke about the beautiful life she had experienced with her husband and the many wonderful experiences they had together.

Connie graduated from St Raphael’s Grammar School, Marin Catholic High School, obtained her B.A. from Dominican University in San Rafael and her M.A. from Stanford University with majors in French and European History. She taught at Catalina School for Girls in Monterey, CA for 5 years. After marrying her husband, Daniel, at St. Sylvester Catholic Church in San Rafael, she taught at Westlake School for Girls in Holmby Hills, close to UCLA, in Los Angeles. She taught French and History and Recent Events courses and then served as the principal counselor for the students for about 20 years. Following one year in school administration at Providence High School in Burbank, she was a consultant for college preparation and college selection on a part time basis for a decade.

Connie leaves behind a beautiful and productive life shared by her loving husband, Daniel G. Miller, of almost 43 years (their 43rd Anniversary would have been on July 19). She also leaves behind her brother, Raymond Giordano and his wife, Jan, and their children, Joseph and Shannon and her husband, Kevin (great nephew Jackson and great niece Brooklyn). Connie also leaves behind relatives of her husband: his brother Guthrie, and his son, Geoff and his daughter Maura and their mother Judy; also brother Van and his wife, Nikki, and their sons, Aaron and Jake. Raymond and his family, a recently retired Superior Court Judge, reside principally in Santa Rosa. With her husband, Daniel, the couple has lived in Encino, in the San Fernando Valley in the same beautiful home for about 40 years. Her husband works for the City of Lynwood and previously retired from a management position with the public transportation agency, LA Metro.

Connie brought immense joy to everyone around her starting with her husband. Connie was passionate about her diverse interests and served in various leadership capacities. She was active in sailing from Marina Del Rey, in the Los Angeles area and held leadership positions at two yacht clubs, as well as serving as Commodore of the Woman’s Sailing Association for two years. She also had a leadership position with the Coast Guard Auxiliary during her decade of CGAux service. An additional interest was working with youth both in sailing and with the Hillsides Home for Children in Pasadena. While serving as principal counselor at Westlake School she worked closely with students to include periodic weekend retreats with students for recreation and counseling. She was much respected and loved by both the students and their parents. Another interest was Jaguar cars, and she participated in events and car rallies for several British car clubs. Her husband, Daniel shared her involvement in all of these activities, but notes that it was Connie who took the initiative in actively pursuing all these interests. Adding, it was Connie who took the initiative in acquiring their own sail boat located in the Marina Del Rey, as well as their beautiful home in the Encino hills as well as the two beautiful coastal properties the couple acquired along the Mendocino Coast. The love of ocean sailing and living near to the sea and to coastal areas are indeed all part of Connie’s life experiences all of which she lived to the fullest. One example of this was her two years of training with an expert sailor in his boat for one of the biennial sailing races from San Francisco to Kaneohe Yacht Club on the Island of Oahu, Hawaii, known as the Pacific Cup Races. She also served as a boat inspector for the Pacific Cup Races for boat entries from the SoCal area. And she competed several years on another sail boat as a crew member and assistant skipper for the Newport Beach Yacht Club’s Annual International Race to Ensenada. Subsequently she assisted in race management for these races for a number of years at the conclusion of the races in Ensenada. And, just to mention another activity, Connie was an expert down hill snow skier in her college days!!! Connie was very talented in writing as well as photography. For the last three years, she served as the editor for the monthly magazine for the California Yacht Club, called The Breeze.

Connie will be remembered and honored in San Rafael where she grew up and went to school and college. Visitation/ Vigil followed by Rosary on Sunday afternoon at 3:00 PM, April 29, at Monte’s Chapel of the Hills Mortuary, San Anselmo. Funeral service is at Saint Raphael’s Church, San Rafael, on Monday, April 30, at 10:30 AM followed by Internment at Mount Tamalpais Cemetery, San Rafael.

In addition, Connie and her husband’s yacht club, California Yacht Club, located in the Marina Del Rey in Los Angeles will hold an event in July 2012 to honor Connie. This will enable both CYC members as well as other personal friends to come together to pay tribute to the beautiful and productive life that she led and to the great joy that so many have felt by her presence in her diverse activities and achievements.