Message from Dean Anderson on the passing of Henry G. Miller
With great sorrow I regret to announce the passing of Henry G. Miller, a long-time Pace University Trustee and Senior Partner of the law firm Clark, Gagliardi & Miller, P.C., in White Plains, due to the coronavirus. He was 89.
Henry joined the law firm as a partner in 1966. He was nationally renowned as one of New York’s most distinguished trial attorneys litigating all types of cases for more than a half century, including personal injury, commercial and mass tort cases. Henry was Past President of both the Westchester County Bar Association and the New York State Bar Association. He was a Past Regent of the American College of Trial Lawyers, a Past Director of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers, a Fellow of both the American and New York Bar Foundations, and a Past Director of the New York State Trial Lawyers Association.
Henry was also a member of the Board of Directors at Greater New York Insurance Company and a Trustee Emeritus of Pace University. He enjoyed sharing his knowledge of the law by giving continuing legal education programs for the New York State Bar Association and many other organizations. He was a past columnist for the New York Law Journal and the author of many legal texts, including his book, On Trial – Lessons from a Lifetime in the Courtroom. In 1997, Henry was given the Pace University School of Law Distinguished Service Award.
Henry was appointed by Governor Mario Cuomo to chair the Commission on Local Government Ethics and by Governor George Pataki to be a member of the Committee on Cameras in the Courtroom. He was a graduate of St. John's College (1952) and St. John's Law School (1959). He served in the United States Army, stationed in Korea.
In addition, Henry had very close ties to Pace University. He was a close personal friend and confidant of Pace University President Edward Mortola, and in the early 1970's worked closely with Dr. Mortola and others in starting and building the Law School. Founding Dean Robert B. Fleming relied on Henry, more than almost any other lawyer in Westchester County, for advice and assistance during the Law School’s early years. Since, then Henry had been a confidant and adviser to every subsequent Law School dean. Henry’s law firm was the first to establish a Law School student internship program, which allowed a select number of outstanding law students to intern for one year with the firm. More than 300 Pace alums, including lawyers such as Lucille Fontana, John O'Connor and John Rand were Henry Miller Interns.
Henry also used his tremendous influence to assist many law school graduates in obtaining jobs and judicial appointments. He was always available to meet with and advise our students, alums, faculty and deans. Henry assisted Dean Emeritus Richard L. Ottinger and White Plains attorney B.J. Harrington in creating and supporting the successful annual Law Leadership Awards Dinner, which since 1995 has generated millions of dollars for student scholarships.
Along with his family and the law, Henry had a deep affection for the theater. He studied acting with Stella Adler and wrote and performed many of his own plays. He performed his one-man show, “All Too Human,” about the life of Clarence Darrow, off Broadway at the 45th Street Theatre and originally at the White Plains Performing Arts Center, of which he was a member of the Board.
Henry was the son of the late Henry A. and Anne Withers Miller. He was born in Brooklyn, New York on February 18, 1931. He was predeceased by his wife, Helena McCarty Miller. He is survived by his five children and 10 grandchildren. Henry leaves behind innumerable friends and colleagues who will remember his sense of humor and learned counsel. He will be greatly missed.
Sincerely,
Dean Horace Anderson
