‘Home’ Improvements

Miller’s story began a long way from Oyaron Hill. Nearly 4,000 miles away, in fact. The son of a U.S. Air Force bomber pilot, he was born in an Army hospital in Germany. His family moved often as a result, including to 15 different states before settling down in his father’s hometown of Narrowsburg, N.Y., toward the end of high school.

With fewer than 1,000 residents, the Sullivan County hamlet didn’t resonate with him. It just never felt like home; so, he decided to go find one on his own.

“My guidance counselor mentioned Hartwick as a place to consider, so I hitchhiked up there and checked it out,” he recalled. “I didn’t tell anyone I was coming, because honestly, I didn’t expect to stay long.”

His attitude was understandable. After all, it was 1969 — during the Vietnam War — and his draft lottery number was a very low 127. He expected it was just a matter of time before he was called up. However, with political pressures mounting, President Nixon chose to end the draft…at number 125.

“Up ’til then, I hadn’t put forth the best effort as a student,” the longtime Hartwick Trustee chuckled.

“But after sharing my story with a sympathetic dean, Hartwick was kind enough to not kick me out. It was a good place. It offered stability, which was kind of nice. It all gave me a big vote of confidence.”

Miller turned things around — and in doing so, settled into the first place that ever really felt like home. He lived and worked in Oneonta year-round, with jobs downtown and on campus. His first job after college was with a factory in nearby Sidney, N.Y., and he fell in love with a region that made an indelible impact on him.

However, a summer trip to Portsmouth, N.H., led him to an even greater love. There he met Judith Day, then a waitress at a local restaurant. She went on to earn her Ph.D. and became a teacher, state legislator, author, advocate…and Miller’s wife.

He calls her the driving force behind his career.

“She always used to say, ‘We’re going to have to buy you a job, because you can’t keep one,’” Miller laughed.

But she wasn’t joking. He began working for a company involved in a buyout — and she encouraged him to buy in. In fact, she took out a second mortgage on their house to make it happen.

As a result, the one-time salesman eventually became CEO of a very successful composite and advanced materials manufacturer, which grew to great heights. He eventually sold it, positioning him to become one of Hartwick’s most ardent philanthropists.

Indeed, Miller has been a driving force behind the College’s Together, We Soar campaign. His giving highlights include funding the new Wright Field scoreboard; helping to launch Hartwick’s highly acclaimed Institute of Public Service (inspired by the values of his wife, whom he lost in 2022); and the Judith Day Apartments (which he named in her memory). His support has often been unrestricted as well, allowing the College to allocate his gifts wherever they are needed most.

Just as importantly, he has taken a leadership role in approaching others and impressing upon them the merits of investing in his alma mater. His efforts have bolstered Hartwick’s advancement team, opening doors and providing access to individuals who may not have shared their support otherwise.

“Without Larry, we would not have exceeded our campaign goal the way we did,” said Stacey Grady ’03, Hartwick’s vice president for institutional advancement and external affairs.