James Morgan Miner Jr.

Waterford - James Morgan Miner Jr., age 78, of Morningside Farm, 75 Clark Lane, passed away on Thursday evening, Dec. 4, 2008, at his family farm in Waterford after a long, courageous battle with cancer.

Morgan was born in New London on March 21, 1930, son of James Morgan Miner Sr. and Lilian Agnes Karkutt. He was a lifelong resident at the family farm on Clark Lane. He descended from Thomas Miner and his family who settled North Stonington and New London in the 1600s. His mother was of German ancestry.

Morgan married Louisa Garretson Harman Brown on July 19, 1958, in St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, Port Washington, Long Island, N.Y.

Morgan went to the former Jordan School, graduated Chapman Technical High School in 1948, Mitchell College in 1950, and the University of Connecticut in 1952. He then completed the intensive program in education at Willimantic State College. He received an M.A. in Education, Administration and Supervision in 1958, from the University of Connecticut and completed his sixth year PhD. accreditation.

He taught two years each at Jordan Elementary School, Clark Lane Junior High School and Waterford High School.

Morgan was appointed principal of Cohanzie Elementary School in 1958, at the age of twenty seven serving in that capacity for thirty four years until retirement in 1992. Under his leadership Cohanzie had the first Head Start Program serving both Waterford and New London students, the first behavior management program for Waterford and the first DARE program in Connecticut. He was extremely proud of his dedicated staff who made these model programs tremendous successes.

Morgan's early involvement in the Waterford Community began as a volunteer storyteller at the Town library and was a Boy Scout leader and Den Chief of Troop 36. During high school and college he volunteered with the Waterford Ambulance Service.

In the field of education he served as past president of the Waterford Education Association, past president of WASA, past president of the New London County Principals Association and was a life member of the Connecticut PTA and Phi Delta Kappa.

Morgan had an indelible effect on the development of Waterford's character. Community service included elected membership to the first Recreation and Parks Commission serving seventeen years; acquisition and development of the Waterford Beach Park; creation of the duck pond park located by the Waterford Library; development of athletic facilities at all Waterford schools; establishment of Jordan Mill Park; acquisition of Stenger Farm Park serving as Chairman of the Advisory Committee for passive recreation in the Park.

Community affiliations included incorporator and founding member of The Eugene O'Neill Foundation; member and former Chairman of the Waterford Police Commission for twelve years; incorporator, founding member and Board member of the Waterford Historical Society for thirty five years; Jordan Mill Park Board of Trustees, founding member and Chairman from 1961, until his death. He was also past president of the former Thames Science Center; life member of Waterford Fire Company #1; Chairman and member of the New London County Soil and Water Conservation District for over thirty years. He was actively involved with the restoration of Stenger Farm pond and nature trails. Morgan was a member of the Waterford Country School Board of Trustees and involved as a volunteer for over fifty years. The children's farm was officially named in his honor in May 2005, in recognition of his services to the Waterford Country School.

Other honors given in his name include the J. Morgan Miner Jr. Education Center at the Waterford Historical Society and the Morgan Miner Wildlife Preserve at Cohanize School.

The family, Morgan, Louisa, Abby and Jay, was recognized as Family of the Year by unanimous vote of the Board of Selectmen, Waterford Week Committee and the leadership of the RTM in 2000.

Morgan leaves his loving, supportive and compassionate wife, Louisa of fifty years; daughter, Louisa Abbott "Abby" Miner of Essex; son, James "Jay" Morgan III of Waterford; and four grandsons, James Morgan IV, Thomas Frank Miner, Austin Charles Miner and Luke Marx Miner. He also leaves his cherished friends, Herb and Emily Schacht and their children. In addition he leaves his dear friend, Jason Dickey.

Morgan will be forever remembered and deeply missed by his family and friends.

A Memorial Tribute will be held 2 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 13, at Clark Lane Middle School, 105 Clark Lane, Waterford. There are no calling hours. Byles Memorial Home, 99 Huntington St., New London, is assisting with the arrangements. Private burial will be in the Cuheca Cemetery in Quaker Hill.

In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to The Louisa B. and J. Morgan Miner Jr. Community Service Fund (The Miner Community Fund) at Waterford High School, 20 Rope Ferry Rd., Waterford, CT 06385.

Please visit www.Byles.com for directions to the Memorial Tribute, or to post a note of remembrance.