Family Talk

Memorial for Michael and Irene Miller

Posted on August 13th, 2007 by Larry.
Categories: Michael & Irene Miller.

Philip has prepared the following obituary statement for the Croton newspaper.

The time has come to bid a final farewell to friends in Croton on behalf of Michael and Irene Miller. Residents of the village for more than 50 years, Michael, born in 1907 in Brooklyn and Irene Preston, born in 1917 in Larchmont, were married in 1939 after meeting at the original Arthur Murray Dance Studio in mid-town Manhattan where they worked as ballroom dance instructors in the 30’s. Their lives were filled with the joys of their artistic pursuits.

(Irene and Michael Miller with their children Diana, Cynthia, Lawrence and Philip at their home on Colobough Pond Rd.)

Michael was not only a consummate dancer and aficionado of Latin music but also an accomplished professional photographer. For over 30 years he was the staff photographer for Consumer Reports Magazine and later combined his photo skills and love for ballroom dance by creating See-Do Productions, a home-based business committed to capturing the talents of the world’s finest ballroom dancers. First in 8mm format and later in video, he single-handedly filmed, edited and marketed a vast library of instructional films to the ballroom dance community worldwide.

Irene, a Finch College graduate in Art History, will long be remembered in the fiber arts community as the Yarn Lady. Many may remember Irene as a source of inspiration and so much more. She opened The Niddy Noddy in the building near the Croton-Harmon Train Station in the mid-sixties know as Gallimaufry. The shop was a haven for those interested in yarn/fiber crafts attracting customers from the greater NY Metro area and beyond. She was known for her beautiful hand-dyed and hand-spun yarns and The Niddy Noddy grew over its many years to eventually consume a three-story structure at 416 Old Albany Post Road North. Irene’s many accomplishments included co-authoring The Stitchery Book with fellow Crotonite, illustrator Winifred Lubell, giving birth to the Hudson River Quilt and initiating a yearly event at Van Cortland Manor known as Sheep to Shawl. Irene was also an active 4-H leader for many years and in her later years was very active in the Croton Historical Society.

Michael and Irene moved their family to Croton from Manhattan in the early 50’s, recognizing the village as a unique and inspiring environment. Their four children, Diana, Lawrence, Philip and Cynthia all graduated from CHHS between the early 60’s and early 70’s. Residing first on West Mt. Airy the Miller’s purchased a “hand-crafted” home on Colabaugh Pond Road where they lived for over 50 years. In 2003 it became necessary for Michael and Irene to leave their country home and independent life-style for an assisted-care residence closer to Diana’s home in Pennsylvania. Having enjoyed long lives filled with their many artistic passions we fondly share with those in the village and surrounding area that remember the Miller’s that Michael, at age 97, passed away December 27, 2004 and just recently on August 5, Irene passed away at age 90.

Michael and Irene are survived by their four children, Diana Beishline of Bloomsburg PA, Lawrence of Annapolis MD, Philip of Columbus OH and Cynthia Mea of Shropshire England. In addition, the Miller’s enjoyed their 6 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren. Remembrances of Michael and Irene can be shared at www.millerfamily.org and will be enjoyed by all. Thank you, Croton, for providing our family a great place we will always call home!

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Irene Preston Miller

Posted on August 5th, 2007 by Larry.
Categories: Michael & Irene Miller.

This morning, at eight o’clock, my mother, Irene Preston Miller, passed on to the next world. I think we all agree that she was prepared and ready to leave. For the past several days she had not been responsive and she had been declining in health over the past months.

She was not a woman to be confined to a wheel chair. She had always been an independent (liberated) woman before it was fashionable and had always been active in her community, in the arts, an in various forms of service.

Philip is preparing a memorial statement that I will publish when it is available. But, I thought the following additional photos might be of interest and a memory of her.

This photo was taken November or December 1941 at the Royalton Hotel.

This photo says “Finch sculpture class, 1st figure.” My mother was always practicing some form of arts or crafts, and I think it began with her training as a concert pianist, then sculpture, photography, etc.

This photo also says Royalton hotel, 1941.

This photo is of Diana and her mother and was taken at the Arthur Avedon studio in NY to send to Michael who was in India or Burma at the time during WWII.

Here is a recent photo of mom with Diana and Philip. She never belonged in that wheel chair. Now she is free.

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