Robert Miller was a bit of a Renaissance man, a musician and banker with interests ranging from the Pittsburgh Steelers to politics.
“He was an economist by trade. I always thought of him as being an educator at heart,” said his son, Robert H. Miller Jr. of Lititz.
Robert H. Miller Sr. of Greensburg died Friday, March 6, 2015, from pneumonia. He was 76.
Mr. Miller served two terms as Westmoreland County commissioner, beginning in 1979. In 1980, he served as Pennsylvania's co-chairman for Ronald Reagan's presidential campaign. He was appointed Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator for the Small Business Administration by President Reagan in 1986.
He was born Jan. 16, 1939, in Wellsville, N.Y., the son of the late Russell A. and Elizabeth L. Miller. He grew up in Meadville.
When he graduated from Grove City College in 1961, Mr. Miller went to work for Chase Manhattan Bank in New York City, publishing extensively for the bank and policy makers on foreign trade and finance, including position papers for David and Nelson Rockefeller, Barry Goldwater and Richard Nixon.
He and his wife, Marie Foriska Miller, eloped when he was in college and were married for 57 years.
“We were too young to know better, I guess. ... He was a musician. He had a lot of talent and personality, and he just won me over,” his wife said.
While in New York, Mr. Miller earned an MBA by attending night school at New York University, then returned to Grove City College as an assistant professor of economics and business.
Susan Miller of Milwaukee said she, her sister Debi Pologruto of Greensburg and their father were night owls.
“I remember staying up to watch Johnny Carson (on “The Tonight Show”) with him,” she said.
The family moved to Greensburg in 1967 when Mr. Miller took a position with Kennametal.
He later was CFO for Composidie, Leading Technologies and the Greensburg Country Club.
Committed to educating young people about the values of a free market economy, Mr. Miller supported the Intercollegiate Studies Institute for more than 50 years.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by two daughters, Debi Pologruto and Susan Miller; a son, Bob Jr. of Lititz; two grandsons, Tyler and Chase; his brother, Russell Jr. of Laurel, Md.; and Greg Pologruto.
A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday in Barnhart Funeral Home, 505 E. Pittsburgh St., Greensburg.
Memorial remembrances may be made to Grove City College, the Intercollegiate Studies Institute or a charity of choice.
Mary Pickels is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. She can be reached at 724-836-5401 or mpickels@tribweb.com.
