Labor Passages: Longtime Labor, Political Activist Betty Miller Dies At 91

(Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO)

Lifelong labor union and political activist Betty Miller (r), 91, known for her boundless energy and drive, died on August 7. “Betty believed in action,” reports CLUW’s Carolyn Jacobson, “and throughout her life went to bat for the causes she believed in, often leading the charge.” A memorial celebration will be held at 2P Saturday, September 11 at the National Labor College. Miller worked as a "Rosie the Riveter" at a plant in Baltimore during World War II, helping screw in the nosecones of B29 bombers. She married fellow New Yorker Saul Miller – the former AFL-CIO director of publications -- soon after the war, and worked as a union organizer and reporter in a number of cities. After they settled in the Washington area in 1952, Betty raised their four children while working full time at positions that included Assistant Executive Secretary at the Montgomery County Education Association; AFSCME Education Director and Assistant to the President, and Director of Contract Administration at the Department of Labor, where she retired in 1984. Miller got even more involved  with volunteer activities after retiring, managing Carlton Sickles’ campaign for Congress in 1986 and working in other political campaigns. Her many community positions included serving as Public Policy Committee Chair, Montgomery County Commission on Aging; Legislative Vice President, United Seniors of Maryland; Education Chair, National Capital Union Retirees; Chair, Friends of Histadrut; and board member for the Montgomery County Fair Representation Committee, Mobile Med Inc., and National Council of Senior Citizens. She was also an elected delegate to the Maryland Constitutional Convention in 1967-68 and in 2007, she was nominated to the Maryland Women's Hall of Fame. Miller is survived by brother Ken Elbaum, sister Sylvia Kasloff, sons David (Nancy) and Jon (Cheryl) Miller, daughters Kate (Dave) Berkemeier and Judy (Scott) Chambers, and six grandchildren. Donations may be made to the Miller Family Trust Agreement of 1992 (a special needs trust for grandson Danny); send to his father, David Miller, 273 Glenn Ave., Lawrenceville, NJ 08648.), or to the Princeton Child Development Institute. - photo courtesy Carolyn Jacobson