Hawthorne Ex-Mayor Dead at 66; Praised for Civic Service

Former Hawthorne mayor Joseph Miller, who died last Friday of an apparent heart attack, was remembered this week as a dedicated civic booster whose accomplishments over several years of service outweighed the criticisms that also marked his political career.

Miller, 66, served on the City Council from 1966 to 1982, including four stints as mayor, when it was decided by council election. His lengthy council tenure ended when he and two colleagues were recalled from office. Recently, he served as the city’s economic development director. He had retired from that post earlier this month.

At a council meeting Monday, Councilman Charles Bookhammer said Miller’s death “certainly closes a chapter in the history of Hawthorne. For the past 40 years, Joe gave of himself to the city and residents of this community, and never once did he lose faith.”

Miller is most noted for having played a leading role in the development of Hawthorne Plaza and the construction of the new City Hall, both in the late 1970s.

In 1982, he and council members Bruce Gies and Larry Guyer approved a plan to consolidate city and school elections. The plan, which would have lengthened their terms by 19 months, prompted the successful recall election.

In April, 1990, then-City Manager Kenneth Jue appointed Miller as economic development director, a $52,000-a-year position that had been vacant for 2 1/2 years.

Noting that Jue had risen through the city bureaucracy and had been named city manager during Miller’s council tenure, Councilwoman Ginny Lambert and other civic activists charged that Jue was paying off an old political debt with the appointment.

But, in their remembrance of Miller this week, several council members described as overblown much of the controversy that surrounded his most recent job.

Councilman Steve Andersen described Miller’s accomplishments as too long to list: “They’re real, despite what some people have said over the last 16 months. And nothing will change the good things he did.”

Councilman David York noted that he had always referred to Miller as “father” as a show of respect, and recounted an incident in which Miller came to visit him when he was hospitalized for intensive care in 1985.

No visitors were allowed in the intensive care unit, but Miller persisted, introducing himself as “Father Miller,” York said. “They thought he was a priest and let him in,” he said, eliciting a laugh.

Miller, who was born and raised in Aliquippa, Pa., moved to Hawthorne in 1954. He joined the city Police Department a year later. After serving as an officer for eight years, he resigned to begin a career in public relations.

Miller served as director of community relations at Northrop Corp. and vice president for public affairs at Robert F. Kennedy Medical Center in Hawthorne.

He is survived by his wife, Lucille, and four children.