Rick O. Miller

Richard Owen Miller, "Rick", 57, one of Hancock's favorite coaches and teachers, passed away on June 16, 2008 in La Jolla, California following a courageous battle against melanoma. Rick was born on January 14, 1951 in Hancock, Michigan, a son of the late Simon and Flora (Puska) Miller of Hancock. Growing up on the Hillside ice rink, Rick developed a lifelong love for athletics. While attending Hancock Central High School, Rick participated in numerous sports, including basketball and track. After graduating from HCH in 1969, he attended Michigan Technological University and Northern Michigan University. He graduated from NMU in 1975 with a double major degree in Math and Physical Education, Magna Cum Laude. Rick also played on NMU's first college hockey team in 1974-75. An accomplished baseball player as well, his favorite baseball memory was pitching against Mark "The Bird" Fidrych and John Hiller in the Annual Felch Tournament. Rick was employed with the Hancock Public Schools from 1975-2004 as a math/computer teacher and as the head coach of five varsity sports: hockey (24 years), football, track, basketball, and golf. He also coached middle school track and football. One of his proudest moments was when he led the 1999 Hancock Hockey team to win the MHSAA state championships. Rick was also selected as Lake Superior Conference Coach of the Year 1989, 1990, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 and the Michigan High School Coach of the Year 1987 and 1999. During his coaching years, Rick also managed Superior National Bank baseball (eventually becoming president of the Copper Country Twilight League), WMPL independent basketball, and the Rainbow Riders traveling softball team. Rick's true talent was in hockey as he eventually worked closely with the best players in the world as a trainer with the USA Olympic Hockey Team in Lake Placid. In addition, Rick was a coordinator of the Michigan Tech Hockey Development Center Summer Hockey School for 15 years. His career not limited to coaching, Rick also refereed in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association for 16 years. A highlight during that time was working in the first game in the Great Lakes Invitational at the brand new Joe Louis Arena in 1979. He also refereed high school basketball and hockey, and received a distinguished 25 Year Certificate in 1995. After his retirement from Michigan, he became head of the math department at the public charter high school, SIATech, in Imperial Beach, California. At SIATech, Rick took pride in working with at-risk young adults to help them receive high school diplomas and trade certification. Even after his migration from Michigan to California, Rick never stopped his love for hockey as he became the assistant coach for the San Diego State University Aztecs, who, for the first time, became ACHA Men's Division III National runners-up in 2008. Surviving him are his adoring wife Mary (Goodell) of La Jolla, California; his sons, Blake Richard and Owen Bell of Hancock; his stepsons Edward "Ted" Greiner of Palm Beach, Florida and Paul Alfred LaBine of La Jolla, California; his brother Donald (Marge) Miller of Onnela; his sister Carole (Bob) Sherman of South Carolina; his mother-in-law Theresa Goodell of Hancock; his brother-in-law, Mark Dice, from Kansas; and numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews. A memorial service and celebration of Rick's life will be held on July 2, 2008 in the Hancock Middle School (Old Hancock High School) auditorium at 3:00 p.m., coordinated by the Memorial Chapel of Hancock, Michigan. In lieu of flowers, the Miller family has requested that friends honor Rick's memory through the Richard O. and Mary C. Miller Foundation. The Foundation is designed to further the work to which he dedicated his life: the belief in Academics through Athletics. Gifts can be made to the Hancock Public Schools, 417 Quincy Street, Hancock, Michigan, 49930.