Retired School Spokesman, Editor Joseph Miller Dies Times Picayune 08-8-1996 ************************************************* Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ************************************************ Died of cancer Tuesday Joseph M. Miller, retired public information officer for the Jefferson Parish public school system and former managing editor of The Jefferson Parish Times, died Tuesday of cancer at his home. He was 69. Mr. Miller was the school system's spokesman for 19 years. He previously was managing editor of The Jefferson Parish Times for almost 25 years. A native of New Orleans, he lived in Metairie for the past 40 years. He graduated from Jesuit High School and earned a degree in journalism from Loyola University. Mr. Miller initiated and wrote the school system's weekly newsletter, "it's Tuesday," and weekly news release, "Monday's Memo," and started a monthly awards program to recognize outstanding support-services employees. He also managed the school system's student awards programs and charitable drives. "He did everything he could to draw positive news, to draw positive things to the system," said Marilyn Heindel, a school textbook specialist and Mr. Miller's former secretary. He was meticulous about details that affected award recipients, making sure no one was left off a program and no names were misspelled, she said. As an editor, he was extremely knowledgeable, said Mary Heffron Arno, a former reporter with The Jefferson Parish Times and former city editor of The Times- Picayune who now is articles editor for The Los Angeles Times. "Anything that went on, everything that went on, he knew about," she said. The paper was characterized by "real, old community journalism" and neighborhood news, she said. Friends described Mr. Miller as an extremely private person. Few knew he attended Mass daily, said Frank Davis, the school system's executive director for finance and administration. "I'm impressed with his spiritual self," Davis said. "I've always looked at Joe as being a good man, a good person." Mr. Miller was a charter member of the Jefferson Parish Historical Society and co-chairman of the Sesquicentennial Celebration in 1975. He helped organize the Jefferson chapter of Jaycees. He also was a charter member of Green Acres Country Club, where he was on the board of directors and twice was its president. He was a parishioner of St. Philip Neri Catholic Church and a member of the Jefferson Council on Aging, the East Jefferson Parish Red Cross and the New Orleans Press Club. He formerly was on the Press Club board. He also was treasurer of the Jefferson Community Club Association and a former officer of the Young Men's Business Club and the East Jefferson High School PTA. Survivors include his wife, Lucille Hermo Rossel Miller; four sons, Robert, Mark, Jonathan and Brian Miller; three daughters, Melanie Miller Goodyear and Joel and Maura Miller; a brother, Thomas W. Miller Jr. of Arlington, Va.; a sister, Mello T. Goolsby of Covington; and nine grandchildren. A Mass will be said Friday at noon at St. Philip Neri Church, 6500 Kawanee Ave., Metairie. Visitation will begin at 10 a.m. Burial will be in St. Patrick Cemetery No. 1. Leitz-Eagan Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.