James L Miller

After a life spent overcoming obstacles with hard work, Yankee pragmatism, and a love of life and family, Jim Miller left this world on Monday, August 29th peacefully and without fuss, a final act of dignity and reassurance to all who love him. Born in New Bedford, MA to the late Meyer Miller and Rose Pildis, James Lawrence Miller was a man with an East coast sensibility and traditional values. Perhaps because of a childhood spent moving from place to place with his parents and his older brother, Martin, Jim formed an ironclad set of morals including “Don’t lie,” “Don’t stick your nose into other people’s business,” and “If you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all.” He believed in the value of education and especially in real world experience, exemplified by his own lackluster career in prep school. Despite this, Jim possessed a brilliant an agile mind that saw him through Wharton for his undergraduate degree an NYU for his MBA. But where Jim really excelled was in finding simple, innovative solutions to problems in the real world. Whether it was problems he encountered in business or in looking at world issues, Jim had a pragmatism and an ability to formulate simple solutions to complex problems. But his most overriding and defining belief was in the importance of family and relationships. He was assiduous in maintaining relationships with those he cared about. It was his staunch morality, his humor, and his cute tush that caused Fay, his wife of 60 years, to fall in love with him. While his impatience, reserve, and intolerance for phoniness made him at times both intimidating to and respected by those around him, it is his caring, most often seen in his less obvious characteristics of wit, guidance, and strength that his children – Mark (and Wendi), Victoria (and Charlie), and Kate -- and his grandchildren – Zach, Jessica, Ethan, and Sarina feel keenly. A risk taker, Jim lived by the creed that it was better to make mistakes than to avoid experiences. In his 40’s, Jim left the corporate world to pursue entrepreneurial pursuits. After investigating numerous possibilities, he eventually opened a business suggested for him by his wife, Fay, a new franchise called Supercuts. His original partner in this pursuit was his former boss turned best friend; when the partnership ended, the friendship continued to flourish. With the help of numerous employees, who he cared about and who became like extended family for him, Jim eventually opened 11 stores supported by his son, Mark. There is so much more to Jim – his love of Judaism which defined many of his core beliefs:  celebrating his heritage – often in loud, off-tune songs (which he may or may not have known the correct words for), family, and strong core values.  Sadly, this obituary has failed to do justice to the memory of Jim, beloved husband, father, Bop, boss, and friend, but we will further celebrate Jim’s life at Mt. Sinai in Burbank on Wednesday, August 31st at 10am. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to March of the Living or to the Goldberg Youth Scholarship Fund.   The first charity is The Shomrei Torah Synagogue Goldberg Youth Fund to provide scholarships for Jewish summer camps to families who can otherwise not afford to send their children. My father felt very strongly that the jewish camp experience was instrumental in helping children connect with their jewish identity. Follow the link below and select Goldberg Youth Fund. https://www.stsonline.org/donations-2/education-center   The second charity is the International March of the Living. My father felt it was possible to forget the horrors of the holocaust. It is important for people to remember through experience and learning. Follow the link below. https://www.motl.org/donate/