Michael Harris Miller

Michael Harris Miller, 63, passed away Nov. 14th, 2015 in Portland, Oregon. He was born in Portland, Oregon to Theodore Miller, a tire storeowner, and Mary Elizabeth Stern, an Olympic alternate in swimming and a synchronized swimmer, on June 19th, 1952 and had four siblings Ted, Sue, Mary-Jo, and Jeanne. He married his wife of 42 years, Judith E. Miller, on August 25th, 1973 in Portland, Oregon. Mike graduated from Benson Polytechnic High School, and in 1975 received his Bachelors in Education with an emphasis on Physical Education from Central Washington University. During all his years as a student he swam competitively, early on at the North Portland YMCA and the Multnomah Athletic Club. In college he was a school record holder in the middle distance/distance freestyle, received the “Outstanding College Athlete of America Award,” and was an eight-time NAIA All American. Swimming would become the focus of his professional career as a coach and even later into his retirement, when he continued to work part-time coaching and at the Oregon Health Sciences University (OHSU) Student Center.

Mike’s many years shaping young swimmers into championship athletes began in Juneau, Alaska as the head coach of the Glacier Swim Club from ‘75-77, Oregon City Swim Club and Oregon City High School head coach from ‘77-81, head coach of the Juneau-Douglas High School ‘84-88 and Glacier Swim Club ‘84-96, and assistant coach at Lewis and Clark College 2007-14. The highlight of his athletic career was as an Olympic Torch bearer for the torch relay for the 2002 Winter Olympics. Despite his many achievements as a coach and athlete, life had different plans for him in 1996, at the age of 43, when he was diagnosed with terminal metastatic prostate cancer with a 17-35 month survival prognosis.

In keeping with his competitive spirit, Mike took the challenge of cancer head on and entered into an aggressive experimental clinical trial program at OHSU. He was able to beat his initial prostate cancer into remission and later another form of rare prostate cancer. In spite of his personal struggles to fight off cancer, he made it his mission to help ease other’s battle with the disease. Regardless of the physical and mental diminishments due to chemotherapy and an experimental drug, he persevered to create the non-profit organization Cancer Connection, in Juneau, Alaska to help ease the burdens of individuals and families fighting cancer. He also worked tirelessly to pass legislation at both the state and national levels to increase insurance coverage for prostate cancer screening, and regularly attended cancer support groups. Mike’s tenacious and vociferous character touched many around him and provided hope for those in need of inspiration to continue their own fight.

In the end Mike won his battle with cancer, but ended up succumbing to a rare genetic disease that resulted in a dissecting aortic aneurism. He is survived by his wife Judy, sons Mike and Chris, daughter Jena, grandson Isaac, sister Sue Fleiger, sister Jeanne Miller, niece Elizabeth Smith, and a list of friends and former swimmers too long to enumerate. They will all miss his selfless character, determination, remarkable courage, sense of humor, indomitable and competitive spirit, inspirational nature, and unfailing love.

Mike’s family would like to thank the many doctors, nurses and medical staff at OHSU for their compassionate care through his many years as a patient.

In lieu of flowers the family would like donations in his memory to be made to:

Cancer Connection in Juneau, AK: http://www.cancerconnectionak.org/donate.html

Or

OHSU Prostate Cancer Research - Checks made payable to OHSU Foundation. Memo field of check or attached paper with note, "Donations to support Prostate Cancer Program Fund (14212) and mailed to:

OHSU Knight Prostate Cancer Program

3303 SW Bond Ave., CH14R

Portland, OR 97239