Michael Miller

Michael Miller, 64, of Concord, CA died at home Wednesday, May 1, 2013. He was born to Ophelia Delma Williams on October 16, 1948, in St. Louis, MO. Mike graduated in 1966 from in Berkeley High School. Following graduation he served in the United States Air Force, where he completed a tour of duty in Vietnam. Upon his return to the United States, Mike became involved in the growing civil rights movement in California leading the Black Student Union at California State University, Hayward. He graduated with a B.S. in Political Science and attended the MBA program at St. Mary?s College. During this time, while never formally a member, Mike became very involved with many of the community programs run by the Black Panther Party based in Oakland, CA. His activism and involvement led him to intersect with some of the great personalities of his day. For a time he served as the personal assistant to Maya Angelou, a relationship which encouraged his passion for theatre, and as a young adult he performed in a number of local productions alongside many of the great actors of his generation. One of his notable contemporaries was the actor Danny Glover. Mike had a successful 38 year career in business. Starting at U.S. Leasing Corporation in 1975, he became an expert on the management of back-office systems for lease financing and administration. At the time of his death, he was Vice President of Client Services for Netsol Technologies. Mike had a passion for music throughout his life with a deep appreciation for jazz, soul, and R&B, from the smooth vocals of Nat King Cole, to the cool harmonies of Motown, to the freedom of Miles Davis?s classic quintets. Mike was also an avid sports fan. He loved the St. Louis Cardinals, San Francisco 49ers, the San Francisco Giants, the Los Angeles Lakers, and the USC Trojans. Michael is survived by three children, Pamela Lawless of Vallejo; Jeremy Miller of San Francisco; and Paul Miller of Los Angeles, and by three grandchildren. He is also survived by his long-time partner Janet Weeks of Concord and a large extended family in Missouri and California. In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting that donations be made to Hospice of the East Bay or the American Cancer Society. A celebration of life will be held at 4 p.m. on Thursday May 23 at the Gardens at Heather Farm Park in Walnut Creek. Blue jeans and T shirts are acceptable.