Jerry Miller’s 45-year career providing recreation opportunities and facilities for Norwood residents is coming to an end. Miller said the average age of his counterparts in other towns is 36 years old. That’s nearly half his age. Most of his contemporaries have already retired, “except a few that should have retired,” Miller said with a grin. “It’s my time. It’s been a good run.”
Miller started working for the Town of Norwood 48 years ago, in 1969, as a playground recreation leader. In May of 1972, he joined the recreation department full time, and in 1998 was made superintendent.
Miller has developed many programs during his tenure, programs for seniors, tots, dancers, gymnasts, yoga practitioners and lovers of arts & crafts, among many others.
“I couldn’t wait to go to work,” Miller said. “If you do anything well [in recreation], people smile. And who wouldn’t love a job that makes people smile?”
Looking back over his many accomplishments, Miller pointed to the late 70s and his desire to revamp the playground program. At that time, there were 14 male and female instructors stationed at various play camps, not all of which were being used every day. He consolidated the camps to two: Father Mac’s and the Coakley Middle School which used resources more efficiently.
His next major goal was to redo all of the fields and fix all of the playgrounds. This is nearly complete and only the playground at the Coakley is not done. Miller says there is a master plan in place that has been copied by numerous other towns.
“Teams that come to Norwood to play are envious of our fields and ask how we keep them looking so good,” Miller said. “Part of the Master Plan includes a maintenance plan that keeps the fields in good condition.”
Miller was also instrumental in getting the Town to build the new bath house, which will be completed this month. When pressed about the indoor pool that the Town lost when they sold the old civic center, Miller said that the recreation money from the sale was never formally set aside for a pool. He wanted to make it happen, but after crunching the numbers several ways, he said the Town could not justify building and maintaining an indoor pool because it would not generate enough revenue to cover expenses.
Asked about a project that worked out better than expected, he did not hesitate.
“Norwood Day, for sure,” Miller said. “The first year, we anticipated about 1,000 people would come…10,000 showed up. We thought we’d get 40 booths…240 signed up. It was a bigger success than anyone expected.”
Norwood Day is now in its 14th year averaging 15,000 visitors a year. Miller said he is not going to give up working on Norwood Day.
“It’s tough to walk away from,” Miller said.
How did he come up with the idea? He doesn’t take full credit, and those who work with him say he seldom does. Miller said he and his wife, Paula Pellaggi, used to go to different festivals and fairs in the fall and he wondered out loud if Norwood could have something similar. He said that Pellaggi is a great sounding board. He also said that he had a great committee that helped, many of whom are still involved.
One of those people is Vic Babel.
“[Miller] is a catalyst for making things happen," Babel said. "He’s a great idea man. Half of the ideas are crazy, but we end up doing them anyway and they are always a success because he’s also a great organizer and he knows how to manage people.”
Miller’s question has always been “What can we do to make this a better town?”
Ernie Paciorkowski has been working with Miller for a long time and counts him as a good friend.
“I can’t speak highly enough about Jerry,” Paciorkowski said. “He’s one of the guys that really tries to make things better for people. He’s a guy who truly walks the walk.”
Paciorkowski said he is one of a core group of 10-12 people who work on most of Miller’s projects.
“His enthusiasm is infectious, so when he calls with an idea we always say yes because we know two things: one it will be fun, and two, it’s a worthwhile cause," Paciorkowski “And he always digs deeper; even if something is a success, he looks for ways to make it better.”
Linda Rau, Miller’s long-time friend from high school, tells a similar story.
“Jerry calls you up and says ‘I’ve got this great idea. We’re going to have a meeting …’ and you’re hooked," Rau said. "He’s got a great way of getting people to work together. And because he’s made so many contacts over the years, he’s really good at getting sponsors.”
Rau believes that Miller’s retirement will leave a huge gap in that area.
Paciorkowski agreed that Miller is adept at getting sponsors, but says his real gift is in forming partnerships and community building.
“I’m so impressed by how he does it,’ Paciorkowski said.
Town Manager, John Carroll, struggled to find just one adjective to describe Miller.
“Jerry is a fabulous guy...a very hard worker … a joy to work with … and very creative," Carroll said. L"et me put it this way, he’s a Platinum Man!”
That’s very high praise from a boss.
Other events that Miller has initiated include Summer Fest, the Post-Prom Party, Farmer’s Market, Halloween Haunted House and The Last Hurrah, which brought people into the old high school for a huge party before it was bulldozed. They set up a museum from the 1920s to present day showing the history of the school. Over 6,000 people came, from as far away as Guam.
“It was incredible," Rau said. "I still can’t believe the people he rallied to pull it off.”
The big question is, 'What will he do when retirement is official?'
“I’m not going to sit at home and do nothing,” Miller said. “Besides, Paula will have a huge ‘honey-do’ list waiting for me.”
Then there’s the Bucket List Club he started in 1982 that now has 38 members. They’ve been white water rafting, visited Vegas and Yellowstone National Park, and they’re slated to go to Alaska this year.
“No wives or girlfriends … just the guys,” Miller said. "They are cementing relationships and making memories while they are still healthy enough to do so.
Anyone who knows Jerry Miller knows that retirement is just the start of a new chapter in his life. He definitely won’t be satisfied with just a recliner and a remote. We believe that whatever he chooses to do, he will be successful because he loves working with people, and wants to make life better, and more fun, for everyone.
On Friday, May 5, at 6 p.m., at the Four Points Sheraton, the friends of Jerry Miller will see him off for his Last Hurrah. We wish him success in all of his new adventures, and thank him for his many years of service.
Donna Lane is a Norwood-based writer, lecturer and designer. You can reach her at addictedgardener@verizon.net.
Issue Date:
May, 2017
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