Atty. Michael Scott Miller

Atty. Michael Scott Miller, 61, of Taylor, formerly of South Royalton, VT, and the city's Green Ridge section, died Wednesday morning at home after an illness. 

Born in Binghamton, N.Y., he was the son of the late Edward L. and Sarah A. Miller and a graduate of Vermont Law School, Marywood University, Lackawanna College and city schools. He was a Senior Chief Petty Officer in the U.S. Navy Reserve during the Global War on Terrorism. During his Navy Career, he was affiliated with Navy Operational Support Center, Avoca, PA, and stationed at the former Atlantic Ordnance Command, Navy Weapons Station, Earle, NJ, next at the former Joint Warfighting Center in Suffolk, VA, and concluding his career at the Pentagon. During this time and later, he also worked in the intelligence community. In 2018, he was commissioned by Cardinal Rutherford Johnson at the rank of commander in the Walsingharn Naval Guard, part of an international humanitarian organization with a long military heritage.

In civilian life he worked as law clerk to Judges James M. Munley and Daniel Penetar, Lackawanna County Court of Common Pleas, and practiced law with William J. Rinaldi, Esq. while in private practice, then Senior Judge James M. Munley once again appointed him law clerk, this time in the Federal District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania.

He was also technical editor for Bimmer Magazine, Roundel Magazine, and a contributor for European Car Magazine, with a combined readership exceeding 85,000 worldwide. He was a member of St. Ann's Basilica, the American Legion Post 306, Taylor, the USO, the National Rifle Association, the Northeast Pennsylvania Animal Adoption Network, the Lackawanna County Bar Association, the Scranton Club, the Lackawanna River Corridor Association and the BMW Car Club of America, both the Pocono Mountain and Green Mountain Chapters.

He was a darn good cook. He enjoyed road trips in his two antique cars, as well as motorcycle trips, and was known for his unswerving and tireless loyalty to the United States and his small circle of friends. He took care of his people in the Navy, even years after being honorably discharged, and spent many years as a dedicated elder caregiver for his late mother.

He is survived by his four half-sisters, Ellen Snyder, Colorado Springs, CO, Corrinne Walas, Katy, TX, Susan Morreal, Scranton, and Charlene Giegucz, Vestal, NY, as well as numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews. His half-brother, Charles H. Lieberum, died Aug. 1, 1999.

The funeral will be Thursday with Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. at St. Ann's Basilica, St. Ann St., West Scranton. All those attending are asked to go directly to the church that morning.  

Interment will be at Sandy Banks Cemetery, Greenfield Township. 

Friends and family may call Wednesday at Savino Traditional Funerals and Cremation Care, 157 S. Main Ave., West Scranton from 5 to 7 p.m.

In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the USO by calling 800-876-7469.