window.mc4wp = window.mc4wp || { Nonprofit. Hogans son, Larry, for whom Mr. Miller babysat, became Maryland governor during the last years of Mr. Millers reign in Annapolis. Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr., the venerable Maryland lawmaker who was the longest-serving state Senate president in American history, died peacefully Friday at his home after battling prostate cancer, his family announced. He was 78. Somebody could walk into my office and say, Why is that picture on your wall? Mr. Miller said in the interview for this obituary. ); With large portraits of Marylands four signers of the Declaration of Independence hanging on the Senates walls, he revered his states history, and often brought the subject up in conversation or debate. It passed by 100,000 votes. He was 78. Michael V. Miller. Of all the governors who presided during his reign, Mr. Miller said his favorite was Marvin Mandel (D) because he knew how to build support for legislation and would reward you for working with him. The worst governor, he said, was Schaefer, because he didnt understand governance. Terms of Service apply. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Miller went on to graduate from the University of Maryland School of Law in 1967 with an LL.B. A Democrat, he was first elected Maryland Senate president in 1987. Coverage for the Washington Informer includes Prince Georges County government, school system and some state of Maryland government. Council - 5th Ward. })(); As a result, positive legislation flowed to the [Senate] floor and across the House and with the governors signature, he said. As he prepares to leave office, Marylands governor reflects on his tenure during a one-on-one interview in Annapolis. The Mass and service will be livestreamed on the St. John the Evangelist Facebook page. Thomas V. Mike Miller, former Maryland Senate president, dies at 78 He is survived by hisbereft, loving wife, Diane Thomas Miller, who dearly wishes a cure would be found for Alzheimer's so fine men like Mike could live out their days . [2], Miller was born in Clinton, Maryland on December 3, 1942, the first of ten siblings,[3] and attended Surrattsville High School. Search Obituaries. Larry Hogan (R) to succeed Miller in the Senate and was sworn in Wednesday, said his heart hangs heavy upon word of Millers death. He never took his eye off of it.. Miller will lie in state in the rotunda of the Maryland State House on Thursday from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. and on Friday from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, in-person visitation will be limited to appointments for invited guests only. In a nod to Millers stature, one of the Senates office buildings already carried his name when he wasnt even halfway through his unprecedented tenure. With large portraits of Marylands four signers of the Declaration of Independence hanging on the Senates walls, he revered his states history, and often brought the subject up in conversation or debate. He was Senate president over the span of five governors, from Democrat William Donald Schaefer to Hogan. More by William J. Ford, Your email address will not be published. Candidates, issues on Valley primary ballots | News, Sports, Jobs - The It is impossible to think of the Maryland Senate and not think of Mike not just because of his historical longevity but because each member of the Senate has his or her own Mike story, said Senate President Bill Ferguson, Millers successor. In 1989, he told a Washington television reporter that Baltimore, Marylands largest city, was a ghetto and a war zone. Some suggested the comments ended his prospects of ever becoming governor. Thomas V. Mike Miller, longtime president of Maryland Senate, dies Anyone, anywhere with a sense of history or politics will know the name Mike Miller. State flags will be flown at half-staff until sunset on the day Miller is laid to rest, Hogan said. U.S. Fifty percent of the kids that start out in school dont graduate. Thomas A Miller Obituary (1947 - 2022) | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania For all his adaptability, Mr. Miller was stubborn when it came to history. Dr. Colin McCord, a surgeon credited with saving countless lives by championing a draconian ban on smoking in New York City and limits on trans fats in . He sees me and puts both hands on my lapels and backed me against the wall, Lee once told The Post. Poole said he last talked to Miller around Dec. 23 and the two had a brief, but nice conversation. There are thousands of former Senators, Delegates, staffers, and constituents in the 27th District that he has impacted for the better, and who each have their own Mike Miller story. We cover all of Charles, Calvert, and St. Marys Counties; along with the Southern portions of Anne Arundel and Prince Georges County. Sign up to receive our free Daily Digest newsletter, in your inbox each morning. I expect well hear many of them in the days and weeks ahead, and I hope the public will listen and get a glimpse of the impact Mike made," Ferguson said. Danielle E. Gaines contributed to this report. Senator Ben Cardin issued the following statement: "It will take time for me to process that we have really lost Mike Miller. Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr., longtime Maryland senate president, dies at 78 Mr. Miller clung to his grudges as if they were prized treasures. Gov. He was 78 years old. The Senate he presided over legalized gay marriage, ended the death penalty, introduced casino gamblingwhich greatly increased public school funding, cleaned up the Chesapeake Bay, and accomplished countless other legislative victories. From an early age, Mike learned what it meant to serve others when he began working in his grandfather's local market at the age of 10. Miller's family said he died at home at 4:25 p.m. with his loved ones at his side. Council - 2nd Ward. Even as he waged a hard-fought battle with cancer, I was blessed to continue to benefit from Mikes wisdom and trademark humor. Searching obituaries is a great place to start your family tree research. Maryland has lost one of its most revered leaders, and I have lost a dear lifelong friend, said Hogan, who first met Miller in the 1960s. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Serafini said Miller didn't seem to like when both parties were at odds, and instead took great pleasure when the two sides could make issues work. Mike passed away in 2021, and is survived by his wife, five children, and 15 grandchildren. Oops, this content can't be loadedbecause you're having connectivity problems, Stay always informed and up to date with our breaking news alerts, - Associated Press - Friday, January 15, 2021. Use tab to navigate through the menu items. Larry Hogan, a Republican, reflected on Millers tireless dedication to his state. He was larger than life, a good friend, a good man who loved his family and community and an incredible public servant who dedicated himself to his beloved Maryland. Please see our republishing guidelines for use of photos and graphics. Hes survived by his wife, Patti, son Tommy, daughters, Amanda, Michelle, Melissa, and Melanie, sisters Susan, Cynthia, Melinda, Nancy, and Kim, brothers, Jonathan, David, and Mark, and his fifteen grandchildren, and was predeceased by his sister Judith.. It is impossible to think of the Maryland Senate and not think of Mike not just because of his historical longevity but because each member of the Senate has his or her own Mike story. 8000 Woodyard Rd, 8808 Old Branch Avenue, Clinton, MD 20735. Proudly powered by Newspack by Automattic. He slips on the ice and falls. Mike graduated from the University of Maryland in 1964 with a bachelors degree in Business Administration and received a law degree from the University of Maryland Law School in 1967. Get service details, leave condolence messages or send flowers in memory of a loved one in Toledo, Ohio. Stepping down from the Senate was one of the most difficult decisions of Mikes life. Miller maintained a long-held passion for higher education in Maryland, particularly the University of Maryland, College Park, his alma mater. Miller announced at the beginning of the 2019 session that he was suffering from stage 4 prostate cancer. Current Senate President Bill Ferguson said in a statement Friday that "Today, I join all Marylanders in mourning the passing of a champion of the Senate of Maryland, Senate President Emeritus Thomas V. Mike Miller, Jr. Mike was a family man, and his Senate family joins his family in mourning his passing. } Three years later, Mr. Miller hosted a swanky fundraiser in Baltimore, an event that many regarded as his statewide coming-out party. All of a sudden I saw this curly-haired guy coming around the corner. {"requests":{"event":"https:\/\/southernmarylandchronicle.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/newspack-popups\/includes\/..\/api\/campaigns\/index.php"},"triggers":{"trackPageview":{"on":"visible","request":"event","visibilitySpec":{"selector":"#c37d","visiblePercentageMin":50,"totalTimeMin":250,"continuousTimeMin":100},"extraUrlParams":{"popup_id":"id_260390","cid":"CLIENT_ID(newspack-cid)"}}}} MICHAEL MILLER OBITUARY. I [lost] a teammate and mentor who trusted me to succeed him, he tweeted. . Retired Senator Miller dies, remembered as 'lion' of Maryland's Senate He was an editor at Roll Call, the Capitol Hill newspaper, for eight years, and for eight years was the editor of E&E Daily, which covers energy and environmental policy on Capitol Hill. "Even as he waged a hard-fought battle with cancer, I was blessed to continue to benefit from Mike's wisdom and trademark humor. Sign up to get the Maryland Matters Memo in your inbox every morning. Former state Senate President Emeritus Thomas V. Mike Miller died Friday, the culmination of a life dedicated to Maryland that will serve the state well for decades to come, friends and former colleagues said Friday afternoon. as well as three brothers, five sisters and 15 grandchildren. Jimmy Hughes*. View obituary. Colin McCord, Who Helped Impose a Smoking Ban, Dies at 94 degree. He appears to be with you, former state senator Tommie Broadwater Jr. (D-Prince Georges) once told The Post. As much as anything, he yearned for a return to the political center. Patricia H. Billings (D-Montgomery) opposed legislation he supported, Mr. Miller sent her a Christmas card. Mike passed away in 2021, and is survived by his wife, five children, and 15 grandchildren. Funeral services that include a viewing or wake are usually held within a few days of a death, but a funeral or memorial service can sometimes take place much later. According his family, Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr. was surrounded by loved ones Friday, Jan. 15, as he passed away at his home on the Chesapeake Bay. He stepped down from the leadership position in 2019 as he battled Stage 4 prostate cancer and resigned from his Senate seat in December. Mike Miller was the cornerstone for all the progress that has occurred in the state over the past three decades, said Timothy F. Maloney, a prominent trial lawyer and former Democratic state delegate representing Prince Georges. If he had your back, you never had to look over your shoulder. His family said in a statement Friday, Jan. 15, 2021 that he died at home surrounded by loved ones. I forgive and forget, he said during an interview for this obituary. callback: cb When News Matters, It Matters Where You Get Your News. Youre either in the organization or if you p----d him off you were dead politically and functionally., Mr. Miller could offer foes a second chance, but only if it served a larger political purpose. Maryland Senate President Emeritus Thomas V. Mike Miller, Jr Passes Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr. passed away peacefully at his home, surrounded by loved ones. As a historian, theres no doubt about it, but Ill deal with that in my own mind, he said when the Senate gave the bill final passage. . Linda H. Lamone, the occasionally controversial, at times embattled, but seemingly unflappable Maryland elections administrator currently the second-longest-serving chief elections official in the. Received an award in 2019 from the D.C. Chapter of the Society of But Mr. Miller also said he did not regret that the incident may have ended his statewide potential. Former Maryland Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller dies On Saturday, the family will hold a private Mass and service at their family church St. John the Evangelist in Clinton, followed by a private entombment. Hagerstown attorney and former state legislator D. Bruce Poole said Friday he will always remember Miller as a kind man and one whose work for the state will benefit it for many years to come. He got his introduction to politics in 1962 as a driver for Frank Small Jr., a Republican gubernatorial candidate who lived next door to the Millers. But even his most brash comments didnt seem to hurt him significantly on Election Day or during the annual votes by the Senates 47 members at the start of each legislative session in January to keep him at the helm of the chamber for 32 years. By his own account, Mr. Millers crowning achievement was the legalization of casino gambling and the subsequent launch of gaming in Prince Georges, despite fierce opposition from church leaders and civic groups. Michael Miller Obituary (1973 - 2022) - Laguna Hills, CA - Orange A lawyer whose district included parts of Prince Georges County near the nations capital brought a big personality to Annapolis. Working for Mike was like working in the Mafia you go out feet first, said Gerard Evans, a lobbyist and longtime friend. Terry L. Miller April 23, 2023 (74 . April 7, 2023, 3:09 p.m. But he will stab you in the back., Mr. Miller, when asked about Broadwaters description, replied: Thats not a bad analysis.. He concluded this extraordinary period of service as Senate President Emeritus," Ferguson said. [citation needed], The Main Administration Building at his alma mater, the University of Maryland, College Park, was named after him on June 29, 2020. Thomas V. Mike Miller, Longtime Maryland Senate President, Dies at 78 There are thousands of former Senators, Delegates, staffers, and constituents in the 27th District that he has impacted for the better, and who each have their own Mike Miller story. Even as he waged a hard-fought battle with cancer, I was blessed to continue to benefit from Mikes wisdom and trademark humor. Linda Lamone, Marylands long-serving elections director, announces retirement, I took actions while Trump did nothing: Hogan reflects on Jan. 6, the 2024 election and more, Vogel, Long first Gen Zers elected to Maryland General Assembly, Debt ceiling fight leads Van Hollen, Democrats to revive proposal to eliminate spending limit, Commentary: Montgomery County declared a Climate Emergency. Filter Obituaries Filter . Millers, which was started by his grandfather, remains to this day. ANNAPOLIS, Md. Mass: St. Dominic Savio Catholic Church Wednesday . Miller is a native son, who leaves an impactful legacy of leadership and service.. He wasnt an ideologue but shepherded through countless bills that impacted every aspect of life in Maryland. During a virtual briefing with reporters, he said he hoped he would be remembered for hard work, love the [Chesapeake] Bay, love of education.. ", "Serving the people of our great state was Mike Miller's life's work, and he did so with unrelenting passion and courage for a remarkable 50 years," Hogan said. Subscribe to this newsletter to have the latest obituaries delivered to your inbox weekdays at 5 . A Democrat, he was first elected Maryland Senate president in 1987. (Joshua McKerrow / Baltimore Sun) "His . Miller maintained a long-held passion for higher education in Maryland, particularly the University of Maryland, College Park, his alma mater. The Mike Miller Law firm continues to practice, under Melissa's leadership, with offices both in Clinton and Dunkirk, Maryland, upholding his legacy of grit, dedication, and service to the community it serves. His alma mater, the University of Maryland at College Park, in June named its main administration building in his honor. An astute observer of state politics, he used his acumen to muscle through bills, but he also could willingly acquiesce to major legislation he opposed. In 2017, he was widely criticized for opposing the removal from the state capitol grounds of a statue of Roger Taney, the Maryland-born Supreme Court chief justice who supported the 1857 Dred Scott decision that Blacks in free or slave states could not be citizens. I mean Baltimore is a goddamn ghetto. "Serving the people of our great state was Mike Millers lifes work, and he did so with unrelenting passion and courage for a remarkable 50 years. For 6 1/2 years Kurtz wrote a weekly column on state politics for Center Maryland and has written for several other Maryland publications as well. He was 78. If he needed you, he brought you back, said former state senator Gloria G. Lawlah (D-Prince Georges), who mended fences with Mr. Miller after a falling-out. FORT MILL - William Timothy Sutton II, 29, passed away on Wednesday, April 19, 2023, at his home in Fort Mill. Sign up to receive our free newsletters, in your inbox each morning. It is impossible to think of the Maryland Senate and not think of Mike not just because of his historical longevity but because each member of the Senate has his or her own Mike story, Sen. Bill Ferguson (D-Baltimore City), the man who succeeded Miller as Senate president in 2019, said in a statement. You were taught the customer was always right. February 14, 1973 - September 9, 2022 Michael "Mike" Miller passed away unexpectedly in a car accident at the age of 49. As 2019 began, Mr. Miller divulged that he had cancer but kept showing up in Annapolis, eager to demonstrate his vigor even as he was undergoing chemotherapy. Miller rose quickly in Senate leadership, serving as chairman of the Judicial Proceedings Committee from 1983 to 1986. Founding Editor Josh Kurtz is a veteran chronicler of Maryland politics and government. Serafini said Miller was also an expert historian on state history and they often exchanged books on subjects. Our democracy is the oldest in the history of the world, but its on very shaky legs. Even after his diagnosis of prostate cancer in July 2018 and a round of chemotherapy later that year, Miller continued to come to Annapolis and stand among the rostrum in the Senate chamber before going public with his condition in January 2019. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Dont ever suggest another bill! Mr. Miller yelled, according to Evans. Mr. Miller, he said, was afraid of seeming too liberal in a conservative district. His family said in a statement that Miller died peacefully at home at 4:25 p.m., surrounded by loved ones. Im in the game, Im on top of it, Im right there, he told reporters one afternoon before unleashing a string of invectives, as if to prove his point. Some of the ugly theyre still alive.. Maryland Obituaries Archives Online | Obits Archive ", Gov. Miller continued to wield enormous influence for the rest of his tenure as Senate president, serving in tandem with the late speaker Michael E. Busch (D-Anne Arundel), the longest-serving House speaker in Maryland history, from 2003 until Buschs death in 2019. He stepped down from the leadership role just over a year ago but continued to represent portions of Calvert, Charles and Prince George's counties in Annapolis. He became Senate president at the beginning of 1987, a post he held until the fall of 2019 serving alongside six governors and four House speakers, fighting with some more than others. In Annapolis, Mr. Millers influence was growing. Because of my love of history, Im not politically correct. He served as the state Senate president from 1987 until 2019. Former U.S. president, other leaders, mourn Miller It was an unprecedented period of shared power and stability. This article was published more than2 years ago. Please select what you would like included for printing: Copy the text below and then paste that into your favorite email application. FILE - In this Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2019 file photo, Maryland Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller speaks with members of the news media after listening to Gov. By signing up, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. He didnt live in a world where he would substitute his core beliefs for what he saw as the larger consensus, said Todd Eberly, a St. Marys College of Maryland political scientist. Obituaries can vary in the amount of information they contain, but many of them are genealogical goldmines, including information such as: names, dates, place of birth and death, marriage information, and family relationships. The Miller family released the following statement shortly after 5 p.m.: At 4:25PM this afternoon, Maryland Senate President Emeritus Thomas V. Mike Miller, Jr. passed away peacefully at his home, surrounded by loved ones. Sen. Everything Southern Maryland, delivered daily to your inbox. March 26, 1945 - April 19, 2023 . Mr. Miller adapted by forging alliances with a number of rising Black leaders. ", Maryland has lost one of its most revered leaders, and I have lost a dear lifelong friend. He concluded this extraordinary period of service as Senate President Emeritus. Please enter valid email address to continue. Whatever happens, Mr. Miller said, it would no longer be his problem. Copyright 2023 The Washington Times, LLC. Service map data OpenStreetMap contributors. budget-writing and lawmaking, dies at 90, Forum highlights discrimination and appraisal bias in housing, Revived push for Equal Rights Amendment blocked by U.S. Senate Republicans. At the time, he cited his health, including a longtime battle with cancer, as a reason. window.mc4wp.listeners.push( If you have any questions, please email editor Danielle Gaines at [emailprotected]. But the physical pain became too great, and he announced on Dec. 23 that he would resign from the Senate immediately.