Youngstown -A Mass of Christian Burial will be 11 a.m. Monday for J. Donald "Dutch" Miller, 87, in St. Edward Church, celebrated by Monsignor Robert Siffrin, who passed away Wednesday evening at Meridian Arms with his loving family by his side. Dutch was born March 21, 1928 in DuBois, PA a son of George and Margaret Keenan Miller and came to the northside of Youngstown at a young age. Dutch retired from Youngstown Sheet and Tube in 1977 and then from Great Western Steel in 1986. His athletic prowess on the hardwood can only be overshadowed by his officiating of the cage and grid sport in the area. He starred scholastically at Ursuline High School and played basketball for the Irish from 1942-45. He received a scholarship to play basketball at Bowling Green State University a team that was one of the strongest on the collegiate level at that time. While with the Falcons, he played in the famed Boston Garden, and Madison Square Garden and Chicago Stadium. Locally he led G.F. to the State Industrial Championship in 1947, playing on championship teams at the local YMCA from 1948 thru 1952. In addition to his exploits on the hardwood, he played fast-pitch in the Downtowner League, helping to lead Lyden Amoco and Leeson Bar to the league championship during a four-year span from 1948 to 1952. A well respected football and basketball official in the area and well known throughout the state in both sports, Dutch was a high school official on the state of Ohio's first officiating crew that also included Mike Butch, Jack DeLucia, Manny Nunez and Fred Vicarel. He has received numerous awards over the years for his length of service to the Ohio High Schools, earning the Distinguished service Award from the National Federation of Interscholastic Coaches Association in 1985. He is past president of both the football and basketball district officials organizations, and is one of a select group of officials to haven been chosen to work the OHSAA basketball and football playoffs. In fact, he worked the prestigious Massillon-Canton McKinley grid battle which is considered one of the finest scholastic football rivalries in the United States. His diversity as an official includes behind the scenes work as well. He served as the official timer for both Youngstown State University men's and women's basketball games and was the official timer for the Youngstown Pride of the defunct World Basketball League. He also was the timer for the league's All-Star game at Beeghly Center in 1991. As an avid golfer, Mr. Miller had a hole in one at a course in North Carolina in 1976. Dutch was inducted into both the Ursuline High School Hall of Fame and the Curbstone Coaches Hall of Fame and was a member of St Edward Parish. He leaves to cherish his memory his children, Judith (Tim) Maloney; Gertrude (Mike) McCabe; Margaret (Joe) Reardon; J. Donald, Jr. (Connie) Miller; J. Thomas (Mary Jane) Miller; Annie (Mike) Lowry; Michael (Brian Hartstine) Miller; Suzanne (Jim) Lines; Maureen (Bob) Kafkis and Patrick (Karen) Miller; brother, William (Louise) Miller; 19 grandchildren and 15 great grandchildren. Beside his parents he was preceded in death by first wife, the former Nancy Flanagan, whom he married in 1948 and who passed away, June 29, 1956 and his second wife the former Sally Lemon who he married, July 24, 1958 and who passed away Sept. 14, 2005; and two brothers, Robert Miller and Bernard Miller. In lieu of flowers the family has requested that contributions may be made to St. Edward Parish, 240 Tod Lane, Youngstown, Ohio 44504 and/or Hospice of the Valley, 5190 Market Street, Youngstown, Ohio 44512.The family will receive relatives and friends from 3 to 6 p.m. Sunday at the McCauley Funeral Home and from 10 to 10:45 a.m. Monday in St. Edward Church. Thoughts and condolences can be expressed at www.mccauleyfuneral.com. The McCauley Funeral Home serving the valley for more than 113 years!
