Marie V. Miller

Twenty-eight years after I graduated high school, Mrs. Miller popped into my head. And here I am, reading her obituary, wishing I had asked her more about her life when I had the chance. She was one of my most important teachers. I took her 10th grade English class. I'll never forget the day she came to class wearing a scarlet "A". And then when I decided I wanted to start a debate team, she volunteered to be our coach. She was so generous with her time and energy. She once complimented me...

Mrs. Miller taught us all how to write. I'll never forget how, for the first paper she assigned our class, the average grade was something like 40%. All these honors kids -- we weren't used to that kind of grade! Thanks to her, I was able to become a writing tutor in my first term at college an easily went on to my jobs in PR and marketing, ghost writing, and now blogging and magazine writing. I'm employable, thanks to Mrs. Miller.

What a wonderful teacher and human being. Ten years later, and I still think about her and her lessons on a regular basis. And all of the analogies. And how the most euphonious phrase in the English language is "lucent syrups, tinct with cinnamon." And the infamous 100-word sentence assignment.

Truly a life-changing woman.

So sorry to hear of this. She was a truly bright light.

I'm sorry to here of Mrs. Miller's passing, and offer my condolences to you, her family and friends. Her film class was my most memorable at SHS. If you come across these Super8 classics from 1979/1980 -- "Heaven's Devils," and an oh so dramatic [title?] stop motion animation of a pingpong ball escaping the attack of a gang of billiard balls -- let me know. I'll give her the credit she deserves from the podium at Sundance or Cannes. She is such an intelligent, kind and FUN woman. I imagine...

Mrs. Miller taught me so much, she taught way above my head, and she asked questions that have guided my reading ever since. I began to understand what she'd given me when I became a teacher. The consummate professional, unflappable, rigorous, implacably patient, she surprised us with her rowdiness on stage in a faculty show. She embodied the liberal spirit. I'm so grateful I had that year (1970-71) in her class.

Mrs. Miller! She is one of those teachers who you always remember, with love and gratitude. And she always remembered me and my brothers and sisters when we saw her in Simsbury, even many many (many!) years later.

What a light - she will be missed!

Condolences...warm memories...gratitude.

Pinnacle 1974