Gene was born on August 8, 1942 in Manistee, Michigan to parents Dr. Ernest Blair and Margaret Miller. He grew up in Manistee, Michigan and graduated valedictorian from Manistee High School in 1960. He graduated Magna Cum Laude from Albion College in Albion, Michigan and graduated from Northwestern University Medical School in Chicago on June 17, 1967. Gene met his wife Sally during his senior year of medical school and married her seven months later on June 18, 1967 in West Lafayette, Indiana.
Following an internship in Dayton, Ohio, Gene spent two years as a Senior Medical Officer with the United State Public Health Service living and working with the Navajos in Chinle and Fort Defiance, Arizona. In September 1969, their daughter Jennifer was born there. In 1973, he completed his residency in Internal Medicine at Good Samaritan Hospital in Phoenix. Their son Doug was born in 1972.
In 1973 he began his 40 year medical career in Colorado Springs including solo practice as well as Medical Director at Parkmoor and hospitalist at Penrose Hospital. In 1977, their son Greg was born. In recent years, he practiced at the Senior Clinic at Memorial Hospital and the Outpatient Cardio Rehab. Additionally, Gene's accomplishments include Diplomate, American Board of Internal Medicine, Fellow in the American College of Physicians, a founding physician and president of the Penrose/St. Francis Medical Group, Chief of Staff at Penrose Community Hospital, Chief of Medicine at Memorial Hospital and Chief of Medicine at Penrose Hospital. Gene had a tremendous passion for practicing medicine and did not fully retire until March 6th, 2013.
He had a determination to live life to the fullest. He loved travel and arranging adventure trips all over the world for himself, Sally and friends. He was happiest when he was skiing, especially on the glaciers of Canada. He shared his love for skiing and the outdoors with his children, their friends and most recently his grandchildren. He inspired a love for the outdoors in all that knew him and this passion will continue to live on in the lives of those he touched.
His and Sally's love for medicine, travel and caring for others merged through his mission work with the Methodist church on trips to Guatemala and Russia. He was loved by his family, his friends, his patients, his peers, and the community. He will be dearly missed by all that knew him.
He is survived by his loving wife of 45 years, Sally; his daughter Jennifer (Miller) Hagburg and her husband Erik of Breckenridge, CO; his son Dr. Douglas Miller and wife Dr. Kelly Miller of Durango, CO; his son Greg Miller and wife Brianna of Colorado Springs, CO; his grandchildren Hailey and Harper Hagburg; Corbin, Hannah, Emmy, and recently adopted from the Congo, Mason Jean Miller, Devari Miller; his siblings Dr.
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.8.18