Richard Dick P. Miller Jr.

Those who knew Richard Miller will agree that most descriptions of his character fall short in conveying the integrity, honesty, and thoughtfulness that made him such a wonderful man. Richard P. Miller, Jr. was just “Dick” to those who loved him. He lived a life of compassion and service to community and country along with a deep desire to help those around him.

He was a man of many titles and accomplishments; beloved and twice elected Mayor of Oneonta, decorated U.S. Army combat veteran, Hartwick College President, Vice-Chancellor of the SUNY, Vice President at the University of Rochester and President and CEO of the Case Hoyt Corporation.

Born in Norfolk, VA in 1943 the son of Richard Phelps Miller Sr. and Faith Moran Miller. Dick grew up in Pittsford, NY, a suburb of Rochester. He spent much of his life in Rochester and on Canandaigua Lake. After graduating from Middlebury College (VT) and marrying his first wife Barbara he served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam war. Dick returned to Rochester in 1967 to work at Case Hoyt and start a family, raising their two sons, Jason and Matthew in Pittsford and on Canandaigua Lake.

Dick moved to Oneonta 2003 where he served as the President of Hartwick College and met his wife Andi. Dick was a supporting presence and was integral in the lives of his stepchildren Callum, Rossco and Fable Booker; he loved his home being the central hub for all of their friends. He was at his happiest enjoying the day with any one, or all of his five grandchildren – Liam, Maggie, Catherine, Emmott and Isaac. Dick found the role of grandfather to be among his greatest and most entertaining pleasures.

A natural and thoughtful leader, the city welcomed him with open arms when in 2009 he became Oneonta’s 20th Mayor. Dick was passionately engaged with not only his role as Mayor but also with the people that comprised this community. It was natural to see him at all Oneonta events, whatever the genre.

Dick will be missed enormously by everyone who was lucky enough to have him involved in their lives, including his wife Andi, sons Matthew and Jason and their wives Frieda and Mary his stepdaughter Fable Booker, stepsons Callum and Rossco Booker, Grandchildren Liam, Maggie, Emmott, Catherine and Isaac Miller, his first wife Barbara Miler, sister Susan Kirby and her husband Bill, Niece Janet Kirby andNephew Tom Kirby.

His legacy will live on through his close friends and those who are passionate about supporting the community of Oneonta.

A service to celebrate the life of Mayor Miller will be at 4:00 PM Sunday, November 2, 2014 at the Foothills Performing Arts and Civic Center, Oneonta.

There will be no formal calling hours.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Mayor Miller Memorial Fund, City Hall, Main Street, Oneonta, NY 13820, for the specific purpose of planting and preserving trees in public spaces.