Windham-Clifford A. Miller, 76, of 1 Red Fox Road, passed away unexpectedly at home on December 22, 2008.
Clifford was born in Laconia on March 10, 1932 to school teacher Thelma Clow Miller and pilot Floyd B. Miller. While growing up in the Lakes Region of New Hampshire as a hiker, award winning skier and avid outdoorsman, Clifford developed a strong appreciation for the natural world and a daring-do approach to life that inspired everyone he met. He also became an astonishing craftsman and artist, designing and building beautiful furniture and jewelry and crafting tools from scrap and found objects.
During his formative years at Laconia high school, Clifford had a reputation as a wild man, and managed to blow up the school chemistry lab during one of many unauthorized “experiments”. Cliff was always fully engaged in life and few who met him ever easily forgot him, especially his date who was temporarily and unintentionally knocked unconscious by his very animated elbow during a high school dance in Laconia.
Cliff’s father Floyd, a barnstormer and pilot in the Army Air Corp. in the early days of mechanized flight was a strong role model for his son, who enrolled as a Commissioned Officer in the United States Air Force. As a young officer home on leave during a break in Officer Training School, Clifford met and fell deeply in love with Joanna Kilroy of Laconia, New Hampshire and in November, 1955, Second Lieutenant Clifford Miller and Nurse’s Assistant Joanna Kilroy married at Our Lady of the Lakes Church in Lakeport, NH. Cliff completed 28 distinguished years of service in the United States Air Force, serving as Navigator for a range of aircraft, including the EC-121 reconnaissance plane. Acting as a nuclear deterrent during the cold war, Clifford served on very long missions aboard Strategic Air Command (SAC) B-52 bombers. He later earned his Master’s Degree in Electrical Engineering at Wright Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio and applied his intelligence, creativity and wit toward the growth and development of a wide range of national and international defense programs. During his military career Clifford traveled extensively throughout the United States, Asia, Europe and the Middle East, including Thailand, Belgium, King Salmon, Alaska and 2 tours of duty in Viet Nam. Meanwhile his beloved family grew and thrived and numerous furry animal friends enriched their lives. Together the family experienced 28 moves throughout the United States and Europe over the course of Clifford’s military and post-military career.
After retiring as a Colonel in 1980, Cliff and Joanna returned to their roots, settling in Windham, New Hampshire and cultivating a host of friendships that endure to the present day. Another 19 years of distinguished service were provided to a range of military defense firms, especially the Mitre Corporation in Bedford, Massachusetts. During his career Clifford contributed intellectual input for development and implementation of several key Air Force defense programs, including the Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS), the Joint Tactical Information Distribution System (JTIDS) and the Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System (Joint STARS).
One very consistent thread throughout Clifford’s working life was a strong love for his country and a desire to play an active role in its safety and protection. Cliff retired from his second career in 1997, only to be temporarily reactivated after 9/11. He fully “retired” in 2002 and rededicated himself to new challenges and rekindled favorite activities, including downhill skiing, woodworking and playing poker with close friends.
Cliff and Joanna were married for nearly 53 years: During the past 5 years, Joanna was very ill and homebound; Clifford provided dedicated and loving care for his soulmate and they grew closer than ever. Joanna preceded Clifford in death in April, 2008.
Following Joanna’s death, Clifford reached inside himself and discovered new ways to enjoy life and enrich the lives of those around him. He traveled to California to visit his daughters and experienced many adventures along the way, including racing along the beaches of Monterey Bay on a four-wheeler in search of oiled seabirds and petting a wild sea otter on the nose. He rekindled past friendships and reached out to the local community and beyond, stumping for the 2008 presidential campaign of John McCain and volunteering extensively with his local Parish at Saint Mark’s and the Emergency Response Team of Windham. During the recent ice storm, Clifford dedicated many hours to delivering clean water to local neighbors who had no electrical power, helping clear fallen limbs to provide emergency access to homes that were blocked, making signs to direct people to a local emergency shelter and opening his own home to those in need. Clifford Miller was a true patriot and a kind, compassionate and empathetic man with an outstanding sense of humor and an unparalled zest for life. He inspired all who met him, young and old, conservative and liberal to be better persons, and he will be greatly missed.
Clifford is survived by his 4 children: Dane D. Miller, and spouse Linda, of Plano, Texas, Kevin C. Miller of Northfield, New Hampshire, Melissa A. Miller of Soquel, California and Sara B. Miller of Sacramento, California, as well as 5 grandchildren: Dane E., Seth and Taylor Miller of Northfield, New Hampshire and Drew and Nicole Feldman of Plano, Texas. Also very dear to his heart were Kevin’s soulmate Vicki Dinkle of Franklin, New Hampshire and her children Kirstie, Shauncie and Derek. Cliff is also survived by his brother Guy "Cracker" Miller of Laconia and his family (Helen, Mark, Heidi and Martha) and sister Michele Miller of Wonalancet, New Hampshire. Clifford also leaves behind a host of very dear friends from his high school years, his military and post-military career and his long-term residency in Windham, New Hampshire.
A Mass of Christian burial was celebrated on Friday, January 9th, 2009 at 11:00 a.m. at Our Lady of the Lakes Church, 50 Washington Street, Lakeport, NH. There were no visiting hours. Burial with military honors followed in the family lot at Bayside Cemetery, Laconia. A reception followed at the Lake Opechee Inn, 62 Doris Ray Court, Lakeport, NH, 03246 (603) 524-0111, in the Opechee room beginning at 12:30 PM.
For those who wish, the family suggests expressions of sympathy may be made in Clifford’s name to New Hampshire Catholic Charities, PO Box 686, Manchester, NH, 03105-0686, or donate online at "www.nh-cc.org