Sanbornton, NH - Lauder Miller, 88, of Jolly Island, Gilford, NH, and 131 Woodman Road, Sanbornton, NH, passed away peacefully at home on May 12, 2016, surrounded by his loving wife of 65 years and family after a long decline.
Born in Newport, RI, on November 26, 1927, Lauder was the son of the late Robert and Grace (Stenhouse) Miller. Lauder was a 1946 graduate of Rogers High School and earned his BS and M.Ed. from Boston University, with additional work towards his Ph.D. at Bridgewater State University.
Lauder grew up in Newport, RI. As a young man he served two tours of duty in Korea during the war with the U.S. Army. He married his high school sweetheart Estelle Burn while attending college in Boston. After completing his education they moved to Foxborough, MA. He was the first male elementary teacher in Foxborough and later became a junior high math and science teacher. He served as president of the Foxborough Teachers' Association. After teaching for 35 years, he and Estelle retired to New Hampshire where his family had lived summers since 1893. He served as President of the Jolly Island Association for many years, as well as acting as the island’s Agent where he performed a high level of stewardship for his beloved island for years and years. He once said that during his time in Korea he would try to imagine hearing the wind in the pine trees at his camp in NH in order to find peace. His greatest love was spending time there with his family, working outdoors on all kinds of projects using his mind and his hands to build and repair all shapes and sizes of structures and seeing his growing family enjoy his favorite place. His wife, children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren were his entire life and his most cherished times were spent with them.
In 1994 he and his wife journeyed to Scotland, a trip he'd always wanted to take to visit areas where his father grew up and to reconnect with his Scottish and Viking roots. He loved the outdoors and nature and spent most of his advanced years working around his home in Sanbornton when he wasn't at his camp on the lake.
He is survived by his loving wife, companion, and best friend, Estelle B. Miller of Sanbornton, NH; his daughters Jessica E. Miller of Weymouth, MA; Rachel M. Cooper and her husband Stephen of Shelburne, MA; and Rebecca A. Beane and her husband Scott of Sanbornton, NH; his seven adored grandchildren Simon M. Wilensky of Berlin, Germany; Amanda Ranieri of Franklin, MA; Spencer Lauder Beane and his wife Aurelia of Reading, MA; Erin Wilensky of Shelburne, MA; Vanessa Knasas and her husband, Alvy of Burlingame, CA; Chelsey R. Canavan and her husband Timothy of Boston, MA; and Ariana Ranieri of Coconut Grove, FL. He also leaves behind his long awaited and dearly loved great grandsons, Elias Erwin Wilensky and Aiden Lauder Wilensky of Berlin, Germany, and Alvy Lauder Knasas of Burlingame, CA, as well as his nephew Scott McAskill of Newport, RI.
He was the brother of the late Robert Miller of Coventry, RI; the late Roberta (Miller) McAskill of Newport, RI; and the late Madeline Miller of Newport, RI.
During the last years of his life, Lauder was lovingly cared for by his devoted wife, along with the unwavering and dedicated assistance of his caregivers, Haley Johnson, Elizabeth Keefe, Jacquie Grinley, Kelly Beddia, and Deb Waterman. His family will forever be grateful to Central NH VNA & Hospice of Laconia for their caring support.
A kinder soul there never was. He will be deeply and forever missed by those who loved him dearly. His sense of humor, kind and giving manner, and love of family was and will always be a model to all of his family. He brought a smile and a laugh to everyone who crossed his path.
A private Celebration of Life ceremony will be held by his family at a later date.
Thoughtful donations may be made to Central NH VNA & Hospice of Laconia, 780 North Main Street
Laconia, NH 03246, for their dedicated care and to the Jolly Island Association (Jolly Island LLC, c/o Treasurer, 109 Hardy Rd., Loudon, NH 03307) to support the ongoing preservation of his dearly loved island.
Wilkinson-Beane-Simoneau-Paquette Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 164 Pleasant Street, Laconia, N.H. is assisting the family with the arrangements.