Obituary of Don A. Miller

Dr. Don A. Miller, 88, of State College, formerly of Swissvale, died Friday, September 29, 2023, at home with his family at his side. Born August 8, 1935 in Berlin, PA, he was the son of the late John Irvin Miller and the late Alverda Schrock Miller. Don graduated from Berlin Brothersvalley High School in 1953. He attended the Pennsylvania State University and received his bachelor's degree in 1958. He received his Master's degree in Social Work in 1960 and his Ph.D. in Social Work in 1974 from the University of Pittsburgh. Early in his profession, Don worked as an individual, marital, and family counselor at Catholic Social Service of Allegheny County. He also served as a psychiatric case worker at Pittsburgh's VA hospital. In 1967, Don joined the faculty at the University of Pittsburgh's School of Social Work. He retired in 1997 as a Full Professor and Associate Dean of the Social Work graduate school. He loved teaching and served as a mentor to numerous graduate students. On August 23, 1958, in Pittsburgh, he married the love of his life, Carol Ann Hutchinson (PSU '58). They lived in Pittsburgh until they retired and moved to State College in 1997. He was a passionate Penn State football fan who had season tickets since 1975. He was a lifetime member of the Penn State Alumni Association and a member of the Nittany Lion Club, as well as the Quarterback and Tailback Clubs. He served as Vice President of the Men's Gymnastics Booster Club and was a member of the Wrestling Booster Club. He was actively involved with planning the social events for both sports. In 2022, Don and Carol established the Miller-Hutchinson Men's Gymnastics Scholarship at Penn State. He was a member of Kiwanas, Elk's Club, and was an advisor for the Aktion Club of State College. He enjoyed volunteering at the All Sports Museum as well as the annual Spend a Summer Day at the University. He loved spending time with his family, the theater, traveling with friends, casinos, gardening, cats, and everything Penn State. He is survived by three children, Michael S. Miller and his wife, Vivian, of Opelika, AL, Janice L. Miller, of State College, and Claudia M. Bjorkman and her husband, Robert Everett, of Bayville, NJ; a sister, Marian E. Dyer of Berlin Pa; two grandsons, Matthew Bjorkman and Brandon Miller; and three great grandchildren, Tyler Bjorkman, Elanor Miller, and Addison Miller. In addition to his parents and wife, he was preceded in death by his brothers, Robert I. Miller and Harry E. Miller. A Celebration of Life will be held at the convenience of the family. Memorials may be sent to the Miller-Hutchinson Scholarship fund, payable to Penn State, 1 Old Main, University Park, Pa 16802. Online condolences may be entered at www.kochfuneralhome.com Raise a glass!