FALMOUTH – Stuart James Miller, 75, of Falmouth, passed away on Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2023, after a decade-long struggle with Alzheimer’s.

He was born in Willard, Ohio on Feb. 10, 1948 to Leila M. and Robert E. Miller.

Stu graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1970. He served as a search and rescue pilot in Vietnam, and continued to serve in the Naval and Marine reserves for 20 years. He put his master”s from the Kellogg School of Management to good use in his civilian career. He held high level positions with many companies, including Hammermill Paper in Erie, Pa., Proctor and Gamble and Gates Formed Fiber in Auburn, and Vic Firth in Newport.

Stu would meet and marry the love of his life, Cheryl Baldwin Roth, in 1986 in Erie, Pa., and the two would go on to share an amazing 37 years together. Stu and Cheryl have homes in Falmouth and Ormond Beach, Fla., where Stu spent his final days, surrounded by the love of his family.

His greatest passion (chocolate ran a close second) was rowing, sparked by his experience at the Naval Academy. He rowed in Lincoln Park in Chicago, Ill., helped to found the Misery Bay Rowing Club in Erie, Pa., rowed the Androscoggin River, rowed in sweep boats with Yarmouth Rowing Club, and spent the last 27 years rowing on Highland Lake in Falmouth. He enjoyed rowing on the Halifax River in Ormond Beach, Fla., and managed to inspire his sister Samara, and nephew Bret to follow him in the sport. Sami is now a rowing coach, and Bret rowed at Cornell.

While in Falmouth, Stu started SMORC/SMIRC (Stu Miller’s Outdoor Rowing Club; Stu Miller’s Indoor Rowing Club). There were years of competition in the basement and on the water with Tom Cattell and Charlie Carr, taking them to the Crash B’s, the Head of the Charles in Boston, and to Craftsbury Rowing Camp many times. He was ranked third in the world on his ergometer time. He was honored to row at The Henley in England with Naval Academy Alumni.

He took great joy in coaching the Waynflete School team. He would throw them nickels for answering trivia questions, and as they were leaving the dock for the starting line, he would throw M&M’s to them for luck. He was very engaged with the Maine Rowing Association, and rowed in all the races every year. He was president of his neighborhood HOA for 10 years, beloved by all. There are so many more stories to tell. Stu was a big guy with a big laugh and an equally big heart.

Stu is survived by his soulmate, Cheryl; his daughters Lyssa (Mercier) and Britt Miller; his sisters Sandy (Prescott) and Sami (Bay); Cheryl’s children Samantha (Balbier), Paul (Roth), and David (Roth); his grandchildren Alden (Roth), Nathan (Balbier), Conor (Roth), Zara (Mercier), Maddie (Roth), Anna (Balbier), Bohden (Roth) and Cyrus (Roth); nephews Bret (Bay) and Bobby (Bay); and many dear friends, including Tom Cattell, Charlie Carr, Jeff Foltz, Alan Iovine, Henry Scott, Gary Tettelbach; and his constant companion Major (the family dog).

A celebration of life will be scheduled for later this year in Falmouth.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that any memorial gifts be made to Good Shepherd Food Bank of Maine (gsfb.org)

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