Melvin Jerome Miller<br/>January 12, 1918 - December 14, 2014

Husband for 62 years of his beloved Antoinette Ilaria. Father of Jeri, Donna and Diane. Grandfather of five granddaughters, two grandsons, one great-granddaughter, and two great-grandsons. Always known for his fabulous smiles, jokes, and plays-on-words, he maintained his sense of humor into his final words on life: “More, more!”

WWII saw Mel working in aircraft production, then Army service. Mel’s education included 3 BA’s, 2 Master Degrees, and Lifetime Teaching and Administration Credentials. He was a teacher, then principal, running with the support of Walter Knott, for OC Superintendent of Public Education in the 1960’s.

Mel won a Bronze Medal in the Senior Olympics when he was 79, and played tennis almost daily, well into his eighties. Mel and Toni traveled frequently and extensively, belonged to many Oasis Senior Center social groups. Mel was happiest as a regular in the Singing Group, surrounded by his best friends.

Until an injury in August, Mel lived independently, drove, traveled, and maintained many relationships. He died extremely peacefully Sunday, December 14.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made in his honor to help children have corrective surgery, so that THEY might smile, laugh, joke and sing! Operation Smile corrective cleft lip and palate surgeries take 45 minutes to transform a child’s life, $240.00. Operationsmile.org 888-288-7139.