Obituary of Clarence W. Miller

Clarence Miller, Professor Emeritus, Glassboro State College (now Rowan University), died Monday, July 30, 2007. He was 78. Born in Youngstown, OH to Clarence and Elizabeth (Rowbotham) Miller, he graduated from Mount Union College in Alliance, OH, received his MM from Marshall University and did post graduate work at Westminster Choir College and Columbia University. Finishing a tour of duty in the US Army in Bremerhaven, Germany, he joined Glassboro State Faculty in 1956 where he founded the Concert Choir, taught voice, conducting, and chaired the vocal/choral division at various times. The GSC Concert Choir quickly became known throughout the state, singing for three governors' inaugurations, and becoming known as The Governor's Choir. He also had substantial involvement with the NJ Opera, having done Othello with Metropolitan Opera soprano Licia Albanese, Verdi's Requiem, and Mefistofele by Boito with Met Opera bass Jerome Hines. He finished his tenure at Rowan in 1992 after 36 richly productive years, and then joined the Gloucester County Community College faculty for five years. Miller served twice as ACDA state president and was one of four conductors chosen to assist in preparing a national 200-voice choir for the nation's bicentennial at Interlochen Music Camp in 1976. His choirs performed for regional and national MENC and ACDA and NATS conventions. He was a member of all three organizations. He received numerous awards including a citation from the NJ state assembly for outstanding service to choral art, and a Distinguished Service Award from NJMEA. He was a member of Phi Mu Alpha honorary music fraternity and Alpha Tau Omega social fraternity and the Phi Kappa Lambda music honor society, and various professional and civic organizations. He was on the Institutional Review Board at Wills Eye Hospital/Philadelphia and had been inducted into the Chapel of the Four Chaplains. His influence on choral music in the state in legion. He was an Elder and former choir director at First Presbyterian Church in Pitman, and was an avid gardener. His is survived by Lois Adams Miller, wife of 56 years; daughter Nancy Morrow (husband Robert) of Ellicott City, MD, son John of Baltimore, MD, and grandchildren Lindsay, Robby and Stephanie Morrow. Friends may call Thursday after 6:30pm in the KELLEY FUNERAL HOME, 125 Pitman Ave, Pitman, NJ and Friday after 10am in the First Presbyterian Church, Broadway, Pitman. Funeral service 11am. Cremation private. Contributions may be made to the Clarence Miller Scholarship Fund, Rowan Univ., 201 Mullica Hill Rd., Glassboro, NJ 08028-1701 OR First Presbyterian Church music/organ fund, 305 S. Broadway, Pitman, NJ 08071.