T. Richardson Miner
The Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution announces with great sorrow the death of long time volunteer T. Richardson Miner, Jr., of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis on May 21. He was 77.
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y. on July 15, 1936, Rich grew up in Longmeadow, Mass. In 1954, he enlisted in the U.S. Naval Reserve and in 1958 he was commissioned as an Ensign in the U.S. Navy by Admiral H. Kent Hewitt, USN, Commander of all Allied Naval Forces in the Mediterranean during World War II. Rich became a navy underwater swimmer and deep-sea diver while he served in active duty from 1958-1962. During this time, he was assigned to the USS JOHN PAUL JONES (DD-932) as the Diving Officer and Antisubmarine Warfare Officer and later served as the Gunnery Officer and Antisubmarine Warfare Officer at Fleet Training Group, Pearl Harbor. While in the Naval Reserve, Rich was Commanding Officer of both the Surface Division in Burlington, VT, and of the Naval Intelligence Unit in Vermont. After many proud years serving his country, Rich retired as a Commander in the U.S. Navy in 1976.
Coinciding with his naval career, Rich also earned a bachelor’s degree in 1958 from Middlebury College in VT, and a master’s degree in 1964 from Trinity College in Hartford, CT. He taught at the Kingswood School in West Hartford, CT, later becoming Head of the Lower School, and also worked as Assistant Principal of the Upper School of the Frankfurt International School in Frankfurt, Germany from 1962-1967. In 1969, he returned to his alma mater and became the Assistant to the President and Secretary of the Corporation at Middlebury College. During this time, he served as President of the Board of Directors of Porter Medical Center, an auditor and selectman in Cornwall, VT, and was appointed by Governor Thomas Salmon to be Chairman of the Board of the Vermont Health Policy Corporation and Chairman of the Vermont Healthcare Coordinating Committee. He also was appointed by the Governor to serve as Chairman of a Vermont committee to evaluate the emergency facilities of all Vermont hospitals. He served as Corporator of the Burlington, (VT) Savings Bank.
In 1979, Rich accepted a position as Director of Development at the Lahey Clinic in Boston to raise charitable funds for the Clinic’s move to Burlington, Mass. During his tenure at Lahey, he served as Chairman of the Board of the Association for Healthcare Philanthropy, an international organization of professional healthcare fund raisers, as well as Vice President of the New England Association for Hospital Development. He also served on the Board of the Massachusetts Bay Chapter of the American Red Cross. After 22 years as Senior Vice President at Lahey Clinic, Rich retired and moved with his family to Falmouth, Mass.
Rich often spoke about how fortunate he felt in his life and thought it was important to demonstrate gratitude for all that he had received. He became active in the community, serving on the Board of Directors of Penikese Island School, The Falmouth Service Center, the Falmouth Historical Society and Museums on the Green, Gosnold on Cape Cod, as well as The Lost Boys Skill Center, working to help establish a school for the Lost Boys in Sudan. He also loved volunteering as a tour guide at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution and interviewing WWII Veterans for Community Access Television.
The dedication, passion and pride Rich had for his career was felt even stronger at home. He was a constant and loving cheerleader for his family. He enjoyed watching soccer, field hockey, and tennis matches when his daughters played in high school and college, and holidays with family were always cherished events. Both before and after retirement, he and his wife, Bobbie, travelled throughout the world, always increasing their knowledge of new cultures.
He leaves his wife of 38 years, Reverend Bobbie Miner, and daughters Robin and her daughter Colby of Chicago, Il, Meredith Moore and her husband Paul of Boston, Mass, and Wendy and her husband, Dr. T.J. Filip of Philadelphia, PA. He is also survived by nephews Bradford S. Nichols and his wife Anne of Manchester,NH, John D. Nichols, Jr. and his wife Nancy of Longmeadow, Mass, and a niece, Lisa Kallen and her husband, John of East Granby, CT. He was predeceased by his sister, Virginia M. Nichols of Longmeadow, Mass.
A celebration of his life will be held at the First Congregational Church of Falmouth, 68 Main Street in Falmouth, Mass, on June 28th at 2:00 p.m. Reception to follow. Burial will be private.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to: Class of 1958 Student Assistance Fund, Middlebury College, Middlebury VT 05753 and The Falmouth Service Center, P.O. Box 208, Falmouth, Mass.
Information for this obituary was taken from the Chapman, Cole & Gleason website.