Harry D. Miller

Harry D. "Moose" Miller, 83, of Latrobe, passed away Wednesday, April 18, 2007, in Excela Health Latrobe Hospital. He was born July 28, 1923, in Bronx, N.Y., a son of the late Benjamin and Estelle (Skibo) Miller. Prior to his retirement, Harry was the physical education director at Clelian Heights School for Exceptional Children. He also was the owner and operator of the former Miller Motors Auto Dealership in Ellwood City. He was a veteran of World War II, having served in the Pacific Theater with the U.S. Marine Corps. He was an active member of Sacred Heart Church in Youngstown, Pa., a former member of the board of directors of the Private Industry Council Westmoreland/Fayette Inc.; former auditor for Unity Township; and a member of the Knights of Columbus Jeannette Council 1222. Everyone knew Harry's passion for basketball. A star player for and graduate of Andrew Jackson High School, Adelphi Academy, Seton Hall Prep and Seton Hall University, he went on to play for the U.S. Marine Corps while attending the University of North Carolina, and then went on to play professional basketball in the NBA for the Toronto Huskies, Boston Celtics, Atlanta and Youngstown Cubs in the 1940s. He was proud of the fact that he played in the first ever NBA game on Nov. 1, 1946, when his Toronto Huskies played the New York Knicks. He went on to coach at Derry Area High School, Westmoreland County Community College and St. Vincent College. He also was a Northeast Conference officiating observer called on to evaluate basketball officials after retirement and a proud member of the NBA Retired Players Association. He is survived by his wife of almost 37 years, Helen R. (Lechman) Miller; two sons, Colin K. Miller and his friend, Jennifer, of Reston, Va., and Mark J. Miller and his wife, Amy, of Greensburg; three grandchildren, Benjamin, Patrick and Ronan Miller; his sister, Ethel Giorgetti and her husband, Ed, of Middletown, N.J.; three brothers-in-law, John Lechman and his wife, Dora, of Derry, Eugene Vallozzi, of Warren, Ohio, and Andrew Ihnat, of Florida; a sister-in-law, Kathleen Lechman, of Latrobe; and numerous nieces and nephews. Friends will be received from 7 to 9 p.m. Saturday and noon until 5 p.m. Sunday in the HARTMAN-GRAZIANO FUNERAL HOME INC., 1500 Ligonier St., Latrobe. A wake service will be held at 8:30 p.m. Saturday. A parish rosary will be recited at 2 p.m. Sunday, military services conducted by American Legion Post 515 and VFW Post 3414 will be held at 9:15 a.m. Monday followed by a blessing service at 9:30 a.m., all in the funeral home. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Monday in Sacred Heart Church, Youngstown, with Father Aaron Buzzelli, O.S.B., as celebrant. Interment will follow in St. Vincent Cemetery, Unity Township. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Clelian Heights for Exceptional Children, 806 RD 9, Greensburg, PA 15601, or to Sacred Heart Church, Youngstown, PA 15696.