Robert S. Miller

ITHACA – Robert S. “Bob” Miller, 95, of Ithaca passed away peacefully at his residence on the morning of April 4, 2019.

Born on July 4, 1923 in Binghamton, NY, Bob was the son of the late Erie J. and Helen O. (Kirkendall) Miller. Bob graduated from Ithaca High School where his athleticism shone in several varsity sports. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics from Cornell University and was a member of the Seal and Serpent fraternity. From 1947 until 1979, Bob ran the Erie J. Miller Chrysler Plymouth auto dealership in Ithaca. Following his retirement, he became a commercial realtor.

As a second lieutenant in the US Army Air Force during World War II, Bob trained pilots to fly B-17 and B-29 bombers. He was Honorably Discharged in 1945. On December 23, 1949, he married the love of his life, Carolyn R. MacDaniels at the First Unitarian Church of Ithaca. Carolyn fell for Bob with his quick smile, sense of mischief and his dancing prowess. She was the north star in his life, and he often said he was the luckiest man alive during the 44 years they were married until her death in 1994.

Bob’s zest for life knew no bounds. In his youth, he learned to love horses and country living. The son of a car dealer, he began driving at a young age, practicing his skills across South Hill, now the campus of Ithaca College. After World War II, he set off on his “Indian” motorcycle to California and back. He rode through the night to escape the desert heat, camped alongside the road and washed dishes at the Old Faithful Inn in Yellowstone Park to earn money for the return trip.

His thirst for adventure and new experiences continued throughout his life. He traveled to Australia, Bosnia, China, Switzerland, Syria, and the United Arab Emirates to name a few. He cruised the seven seas with the class of ’44 and played on premier golf courses around the world. Over the years Bob and Carolyn hosted numerous foreign students and guests from Asia, Bolivia, Netherlands, Iran Ireland, France, Germany, India, New Zealand and the Middle East that exposed their family to new cultures, languages, and cuisines. They made many life-long international friendships.

Music was Bob’s passion. A gifted pianist and trombone player, Bob would often entertain friends and family with songs by Glen Miller and Scott Joplin and the works of Chopin and Gershwin. He had songs to sing for every occasion, even made-up camp songs, and he entertained his grandchildren with fraternity drinking songs. A skilled wood worker, he could build anything from home additions and sheds to furniture, bird houses, model trucks and cars. There didn’t seem to be anything that Bob couldn’t repair or build once he put his mind to it.

Bob believed in “mother nature.” He took his family on outdoor picnics and hikes in local parks and taught them the names of plants, birds and the constellations. He led his children and boy scouts in planting hundreds of pine seedlings to reforest an abandoned field. His love for the outdoors prompted him to purchase a cabin on Cayuga lake in 1955 where he, his family and friends enjoyed boating, sailing, swimming and working on the grounds. He drove his motorboat, the “Blue Heron,” all around the lake with a glimmer in his eye and smile on his face. Over the years, the cottage has and continues to be a favorite gathering spot for family and friends alike.

Bob was a generous person. He participated on the boards of many civic and volunteer organizations in Ithaca. He supported environmental and conservation causes and donated land to the Finger Lakes Land Trust. He assisted several Boy Scout Troops and raised funds for the United Way, as well as other charities.

More than anything, Bob was a family man. He felt fortunate to have been brought up in a loving family that gave him a happy childhood. He felt blessed to have three “great” children and more grandchildren whom he cherished.

Survivors include his three children, Janet Miller (Stephen Kontos) of Coronado, CA, Stephen (Rosalie) Miller of Dallas, TX, Nancy Miller-Randall (Jeffrey Randall) of Rochester, NY; and his grandchildren, Olivia (David Moore), Carter Miller, Lindsey Randall, and Carolyn Randall, his sister Ruth Babiy of Glen Mills, PA, and several nieces, nephews and cousins.

A celebration of Bob’s life will be held in the early summer. In lieu of flowers, donations in Bob’s memory may be made to The Salvation Army of Ithaca, NY at https://empire.salvationarmy.org/EmpireNY/ithaca. Online condolences may be made by visiting www.bangsfuneralhome.com.