David "Lew" Miller
MILLER, DAVID LEWIS "LEW" CLARK - David Lewis "Lew" Clark Miller, 92, of Brantford, Ontario, passed away on July 24, 2014. He was born in Saint John, New Brunswick, on May 1, 1922, to Muriel and George Stanley Miller. His childhood was spent exploring the shores of the Bay of Fundy and hunting and fishing the northern woods, the source of many stories which he often told and later recorded. In September 1939, he enlisted as a Gunner in the Royal Canadian Artillery. He was commissioned in the Artillery in 1942, and later transferred to the Infantry to serve on loan (Can Loan program) with the British Army. He served as a lieutenant with the Black Watch, 51st Highland Division and fought at Nijmegen (the ‘Bridge Too Far’). He married the late Victoria Bertha Rogers (a social worker and psychotherapist), on May 5, 1948. In 1950, he received a BA from Dalhousie University and was awarded the University Medal for highest First Class Honours in Philosophy. He was elected Life President of the graduating class, and received the Malcolm Honour Award, the highest student award at Dalhousie. On a Beaver Club Scholarship, he attended the University of Edinburgh and in 1952 received a Master of Arts placing first in Philosophy. He became Head of the Department of Philosophy at the University of New Brunswick in 1955. In 1957, he joined the CBC in Toronto as a Producer in the Department of Public Affairs. He was responsible for the development and planning of the program ‘University of the Air.’ In 1962, Lew earned a Ph.D. in philosophy from Edinburgh. His supervisor was the renowned philosopher John Macmurray. From 1964 to 1968, he was an Associate Professor at Scarborough College, University of Toronto. Through his involvement in the origins of educational television in Ontario he became one of the founders of TV Ontario, serving as its first Program Director and later, its General Manager. He was responsible for such shows as The Polka Dot Door and Saturday Night at the Movies with Elwy Yost. At the end of his professional life he taught Media Studies at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, U of T and became Director of the Guidance Centre, U of T Press. Lew is predeceased by his brother Harold, and survived by Gordon and Verna. He is survived by three sons David Lewis (Susan Sutton), Clark (Taska Carrigan), and Reeves (Lina Medaglia). His grandchildren, Katharine, Christian, and Carrigan will miss his love, his smile, and his many stories. Lew lived to meet his first great-grandchild Locklan Lewis. We sincerely thank Dr Jeff Manning, the staff of Charlotte Villa and the Stedman Community Hospice for their exemplary care and dedication. We wish to thank Susan who over the years has been a devoted and loving primary caregiver.
Arrangements are entrusted to MCCLEISTER FUNERAL HOME, 495 Park Rd. N., Brantford, Ontario. Cremation has taken place. Donations to the Stedman Community Hospice or your favorite charity would be gratefully appreciated. A gathering to commemorate his life will be held at the home of Lewis and Susan on Sunday, August 10th, from 1:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. While living in Brantford, Lew made many friends and until recently exercised regularly at the Brantford Athletic Club where he was an inspiration to younger members. An avid fisherman, he fought many great fish in his time. He loved poetry and the stories of Ernest Hemingway… and a glass of good red wine. His kind and gentle spirit will be missed by his friends, family and loved ones.
MCCLEISTER 519-758-1553
www.mccleisterfuneralhome.ca