Howard ("Howie") Miller

Howard (Howie) Miller, 81, of Bloomfield, CT passed away peacefully, with his son and loved ones by his side, on Tuesday, January 27, 2015. He was born in Brooklyn, New York on July 16, 1933, the youngest of four children to the late Samuel and Sarah (Glick) Miller. After graduating with an engineering degree from City College of New York, Howie moved to Connecticut to pursue his dream. He worked at General Electric, Pratt & Whitney, and Kahn Industries before becoming a business owner. He was partner in Ward Manufacturing, Dynamic Metal Products and Dynamic Gunver Technologies (DGT) during his legendary career. Howie had a flair for growing small companies and making them very successful. “You can’t make money unless you reinvest it”, he would often say. After he and his partners sold DGT in 2004 he decided to take some time off to travel and enjoy his family. He then decided to “get back in the game” and along with his son and nephew acquired Spartan Aerospace in Manchester, CT. This was his tribute to “bringing the band back together”. Many loyal employees have followed Howie through all of his business ventures. He is known as an icon in the aerospace industry. To his family, employees, and his many friends, he leaves an inheritance of work ethic, loyalty, generosity, inspiration and strength. May his contagious smile and always-positive attitude be an inspiration to us all. Love life each day, call everyone “babe”, ask what everyone else thinks, those were some of his mottos. He often said, “all you have to do is show up”. Howie was a lover of everything New York, from the Brooklyn Dodgers to the New York Yankees. He was passionate about baseball and frequently attended games with his family and friends. He loved his hot dogs as tradition at each game. He also loved to watch basketball, tennis, and football. He loved to eat out frequently and cherished ice cream for dessert. For many years he loved to ski, play tennis, basketball, and spend days on the beach. Howie traveled the world extensively with family and friends and has created wonderful memories for us all. He was a member of Tumble Brook Country Club since 1977 and belonged to Congregation Beth Israel of West Hartford. He was a supporter of and contributor to many philanthropic organizations. His greatest joy and love was for his family and friends. He was a loving man with a kind soul. He will long be remembered fondly and deeply missed. He is survived by his son Jamison Miller, two grandchildren Craig and Allison Miller, and his loving partner, a guardian angel to him and his family; Louise Fredericks. He also leaves his sister Devorah Lehrer, nephews: Allan Lehrer and his wife Sherry, Barry Lehrer and his wife Ilyse. Nieces: Lynne Godofsky and her husband Eliot, Myrna Kaplan and her husband Stephen, Sherry Janowitz and her husband Bernard, and many special life-long friends. He was predeceased by his wife Felicia (Hernaez) Miller, and his sisters Zelda Jean Wexler and Dorothy Waldman. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am on Friday, January 30, 2015 in the Chapel of the Weinstein Mortuary, 640 Farmington Avenue, Hartford, with Rabbi Michael Pincus officiating. Interment will follow at the Beth Israel Cemetery, Jackson Street Extension, Avon. The family will receive friends Friday following the funeral and Saturday from 2-5 pm at his home, 20 Alice Drive, Bloomfield. Memorial contributions may be made to a charity of the donor’s choice. The family would like to thank all the staff at Masonicare and the Stay at Home Care nurses, Suzette and Jane for their compassionate care during his final days. For further information, directions, or to sign the guest book for Howie, please visit online at www.weinsteinmortuary.com/funeral.cfm “Take off your shoes and stockings and let your feet go bare”