LAWRENCE MILLER

We celebrate the life of Lawrence Miller, 93, loving father, greatest generation military officer, magician, science and technology developer and arts lover.

Lawrence was born in Parsons, PA to Harry and Rose Miller. He attended Coughlin High School and took the United States Military Academy West Point Entrance Examination earning a perfect score. Miller entered the West Point Class of 1942 during World War II in a class of notable cadets, including General Patton's son, George S. Patton, Jr. Miller further studied mechanical engineering at Oklahoma Agricultural and Mining College and electrical engineering at the University of Pennsylvania.

Miller's first assignment was "Operation Paperclip," a secret program of the Joint Intelligence Objectives Agency. Under the command of Colonel Jim Hamill, who became a dear friend of the family, Miller's Operation Paperclip assignment was to bring German scientists and their families out of Germany before the Russians could claim them. Operation Paperclip led to over 1,600 German scientists, engineers, and technicians advancing rocket technology in the U.S. This included the family of Wernher Von Braun, the rocket scientist, who became neighbors to Miller at the White Sands, New Mexico Joint Guided Missile Test Range.

At White Sands, Miller was involved in rocket development, including the V-2, a backbone of strategic defense and the NASA Space program. Miller's many other military assignments included Aberdeen Proving Ground, Redstone Arsenal and Fort Bliss.

Miller was sent to the Korean War and managed Ordnance resources. Returning to the US after the Korean War, Miller was selected to the United States Army Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. Subsequently, Miller worked for the Central Intelligence Agency, work that his children knew nothing of until recently, as an analyst in Russian intercontinental ballistic missile [ICBM] research.

Miller retired from the United States Army in 1985 as a Lieutenant Colonel. He then embarked in the early 1960's on a rewarding career as the Director of Marketing and then Executive Director of Philips Laboratories, the Dutch based technology company, when Philips' research arm first came to the U.S.

Miller travelled the globe securing funding for major science advancements achieved by Philips, including the Stirling Cycle Cryogenic Cooler, the NASA/Philips closed-loop system designed to produce five watts of super-cooling to 65 degrees Kelvin, the Compact Cassette, Compact Disc Player, High Definition TV, and other technology.

Miller was a lifelong student of magic and a member of the Society of American Magicians and the International Magicians Society. He enjoyed delighting his children and grandchildren with astonishing tricks. Miller also collected unique antique magic devices and attended magic conventions world-wide for over 50 years.
He was also an avid classic performance sports car restorer and enjoyed work at various times on his Jaguars, Thunderbird, Porsche, Lancias, and other vehicles.

Lawrence Miller was an exceedingly generous and active father and grandfather. He never spoke of or boasted about his distinguished military or corporate career other than sharing fascinating accounts of his travels around the world. Miller was a lover of arts and culture and collected rare art and crafts from around the world. When Miller retired he continued traveling to remote places, including camping in China and Tibet, traveling to Europe and Israel and so many other places.

Miller's spouses, of blessed memory, are Barbara Groh Imbriglia, Henrietta Miller, and June Miller.

Miller is survived by his children, Alison Kovalchik, Shavertown, PA, Christopher Miller, Shavertown, PA, Jeffrey Miller, Walden, New York, Robyn Musanya, San Diego, CA, Richard Meltzer, of blessed memory, and Barry Meltzer, Florida, and grandchildren, Jacob and Alexandra Kovalchik, Amelia Sommer, and Elijah and Jessie Miller.

Services for Miller will be held at the United States Military Academy, West Point, NY, with full military honors, on March 14th, at 10:00 am.

Shiva details will be announced later.

Lawrence Miller's family is blessed to have such a kind, witty, loving and inspirational father. Contributions in Lawrence Miller's memory can be made to Hospice of the Sacred Heart, Dunmore, or the charity of the donor's choice.