Harold Douglas Miller

Harold Douglas Miller passed away in his sleep at age 98, on December 7, 2022. He was born in Worcester, NY, in 1924 to Ila and A.D. Miller. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II and, as a Technical Sergeant, fought in the Battle of the Bulge. After the war, Harold returned to college and earned his B.A. and M.A. at SUNY Albany.

He was very proud of his seven children and two sons-in-law: JoAnne Miller Buntich and Tom Buntich, Alex D. Miller, Mark Miller, Margaret Winters, Lisa Miller, Mary Lee Miller and Steven Humphrey, Meredith Miller and their mother Joan Miller. He had seven beloved grandchildren: Janice De Manda, Hannah Buntich, Matthew Winters, Jason Winters, Maia Pollio, Shane Millhoan and Clayton Perry, and five great grandchildren: Morrigan, Tyler, Shealynn, Ryan, Aidan and Mason.

Harold taught Chemistry for 33 years at Central Islip, NY High School and was the Science Coordinator for the school district. He was elected to the CIHS Sports Hall of Fame for his ability as a winning gold coach and served a term as Chairman of NY State Public School Golf.

Harold was a distinguished Fellow of the Science Teachers Association of New York State (STANYS). He served as a term as STANYS resident and chaired the STANYS annual conference for more than 25 years. He also served on the Board of the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) and directed the NSTA National Convention when it was in New York City.

In “retirement”, Harold co-founded the New York State Science Olympiad competition for students and served as State Director for more than 25 years.

He loved to travel, and he and his wife Virginia visited six continents, even returning to the sites of two prison camps in Germany in which he had been a POW.

Harold is survived by his loving wife and partner in science education activities, Virginia Curry, and his sister and brother-in-law, Ellen and William Damato. He was predeceased by his brothers Vincent and Gordon and his son, Alex.

The family would welcome donations in Harold’s name to FoodForthePoor.org/thanks or the Curry-Miller Scholarship for science education students at Pace University.