Sam Miller (businessman)

Samuel Henry Miller (June 26, 1921 – March 7, 2019) was an American businessman and philanthropist who propelled the growth of Forest City Material Co. from lumber to real-estate which became Forest City Enterprises. He was the first Jewish person to receive an Archbishop Edward F. Hoban Award for service to the Catholic Church.

This article is about the businessman. For other uses, see Sam Miller (disambiguation).

Sam Miller
Born
Samuel Henry Miller

(1921-06-26)June 26, 1921
Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.
DiedMarch 7, 2019(2019-03-07) (aged 97)
Beachwood, Ohio, U.S.
Burial placeBet Olam Cemetery, Beachwood, Ohio, U.S.
EducationWestern Reserve University (BA)
Harvard University (MBA)
Years active1947–2019
Spouses
Ruth Ratner
​
​
(m. 1946; div. 1982)​
    Maria Shanley
    ​
    (m. 1983)​
    Children4 including Aaron David Miller
    Military career
    Allegiance United States
    Service/branch United States Navy
    Years of service1942–1946
    RankLieutenant
    Battles/warsWorld War II
     • Pacific theater
     • Guadalcanal Campaign
     • Naval Battle of Guadalcanal

    Early life and education

    Miller's father emigrated from Russia to Ellis Island and then became a junk peddler in Cleveland, Ohio. His son would ride along with him in a horse-drawn carriage as he conducted his business. [1] Miller earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Western Reserve University in 1941 and a Master of Business Administration from Harvard Business School in 1943.[2]

    Military service

    Miller served in World War II as a lieutenant.

    Awards and philanthropy

    Miller received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Cleveland Diocese in 2015. He was presented the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Cleveland Jewish News on November 20, 2016 at Landerhaven.[3][4] Miller served on the boards of Baldwin Wallace University, John Carroll University, Cleveland State University, Notre Dame College, Case Western Reserve University, Harvard Business School, WVIZ, ideastream, American Red Cross, Urban League, United Jewish Appeal, and Jewish National Fund.[5][4][6] In 2013, he was inducted into the Cleveland International Hall of Fame.[7]

    Personal life

    After serving in World War II, Miller met his future wife, Ruth Ratner (December 1, 1925 – November 26, 1996), in Wickliffe, Ohio, in 1946 at Leonard Ratner's summer cottage. Ruth was the daughter of Forest City Material Co. co-founder Leonard Ratner and sister of Albert Ratner; they married later that same year. Together, they had four children:[1] Aaron David Miller, Richard Miller, Gabrielle Miller, and Abraham Miller. Miller divorced Ratner in 1983 and she remarried Rabbi Phillip Horowitz (1922 – 2002).[8] He married Maria Shanley in 1983. Shanley converted from Roman Catholicism to Judaism upon marrying Miller. In 1996, his first wife, Ruth, died from cancer. Miller had surgery in 2002 to treat bladder cancer. He died on March 7, 2019.[1][5][9][3] Services were held at the Park Synagogue in Shaker Heights, Ohio and his interment was at Bet Olam Cemetery.[10]

    See also

    References

    Citations
    1. Gomez, Henry J. (March 7, 2019). "Sam Miller, co-chair of Cleveland's Forest City Enterprises and philanthropist, is dead at 97". Cleveland.com. Cleveland: Advance Publications. Retrieved March 7, 2019.
    2. "Samuel H. Miller". Cleveland Clinic. Retrieved March 25, 2021.
    3. Jacob, Bob (March 7, 2019). "Sam Miller, 'Forest City' Co-Chair Emerius Dies". Cleveland Jewish News. Beachwood, Ohio: Cleveland Jewish Publication Co. Retrieved March 7, 2019.
    4. Brett, Regina (August 4, 2016). "From rags to riches: Regina Brett's 2016 column on Sam Miller". Cleveland Jewish News. Beachwood, Ohio: Cleveland Jewish Publication Co. Retrieved March 7, 2019.
    5. WJW Staff (March 7, 2019). "Cleveland businessman and philanthropist Sam Miller dies at 97". WJW. Cleveland: Tribune Broadcasting. Retrieved March 7, 2019.
    6. Crain's Cleveland Business Staff. "Samuel H. Miller". Crain's Cleveland Business. Cleveland: Crain Communications. Retrieved March 7, 2019. {{cite magazine}}: |author= has generic name (help)
    7. "Sam Miller, Cleveland International Hall of Fame, 2013 Class". ClevelandPeople.com. Cleveland: Cleveland International Hall of Fame. Magnum Computers Inc. May 8, 2013. Retrieved March 7, 2019.
    8. Mio, Lou (December 27, 1996). "A Servant Of The City, Dies At 70 'She Never Asked For Anything For Herself'". Cleveland.com. Cleveland: Advance Publications. Encyclopedia of Cleveland History. Retrieved March 15, 2019.
    9. JTA Staff (March 7, 2019). "Samuel Miller, philanthropist who championed Catholic-Jewish ties, dies at 97". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. New York City: 70 Faces Media. Retrieved March 13, 2019.
    10. Cross, Ian (March 8, 2019). "Beloved Cleveland icon and philanthropist Samuel Miller has died". News 5 Cleveland.

    Sources
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