Vol.FF Jeff Miller, Clinton,CT, 39, -- cancer

[Guest hoss]

Very sad, tragic loss for everyone in CT shore.

04/14/2005  

Clinton mourns death of veteran firefighter Jeff Miller, 39  

Stan Fisher , Register Correspondent  

CLINTON — Volunteer firefighter Jeff Miller, 39, who won legions of friends and admirers during a 25-year career, died Tuesday after a six-month battle with cancer.  

His funeral Saturday is expected to be the largest seen in Clinton in decades and the town center will be closed to traffic during the procession.

The gravity of Miller’s illness — he suffered from clear cell renal cancer — and his passing at Middlesex Hospital "has affected all of us tremendously in the fire and police service," Fire Chief Scott Andrews said. "The courageous endurance he demonstrated … he took this on as best he could."  

Miller is well-known in Clinton and along the Shoreline from his work with his stepfather’s business, Hugh D. Allen Appliance Repair, and from his 25 years of service as a volunteer firefighter with the Clinton department.  

He joined the department at age 15 as a junior member and later served as assistant fire chief and assistant fire marshal.

"His life has been dedicated to the town and to the fire service," Andrews said. "There isn’t anyone who doesn’t know Jeff. All over the Shoreline, he’s known for lending a hand wherever it’s needed."

Critically ill since November, Miller’s illness cast a pall over the community and particularly fellow members of the Clinton Volunteer Fire Department.

His wife, Debbie, has survived cancer, and his stepfather, Hugh Allen, has experienced two different cancers. Miller was the father of two young daughters.

His mother, Sandy Allen, earlier this year struggled to express her reaction to her son’s diagnosis, saying finally, "It’s just not fair."

First Selectman James M. McCusker Jr., who recalled watching Miller play high school basketball with The Morgan School team, said of his death, "It’s just a devastating loss to this community, a major loss of a fine young family man who has given so much to Clinton."

Police Chief Joseph Faughnan said of him, "Any young person would do well to aspire to grow up to be as brave and talented a man as Jeff Miller. He was an outstanding firefighter, and his passing is a tremendous loss for his family and this community."

Besides his wife, mother, daughters Taylor and MacKenzie and his stepfather, Miller is survived by his father, Thomas Miller of Clinton; four sisters, Susan Vernali of Andover, Amber Vibert of Madison, Pamela Rosch of Clinton and Nancy Kirkland of Jacksonville, Fla.

Funeral services will be held at St. Mary’s Church of the Visitation at 11 a.m. Saturday. Members of the Fire Department will march from the Swan Funeral Home to St. Mary’s at 10:30, and from the church to Beaverbrook Cemetery on Route 145 after the service.

Calling hours at Swan Funeral Home, 80 E. Main St., will be held from 3 to 9 p.m. Friday.

At 7:30 p.m. Friday, acclaimed singers Stephanie Gregory and Samantha LaCroix will perform a concert of operatic arias and Broadway show music at Andrews Memorial Town Hall to benefit the Miller family.

Contributions to a scholarship fund for the Miller children may be sent to Liberty Bank, attention Heather Downey, Main Street, Clinton 06413.