Edwin "Fast Eddie" Miller's Obituary
Edwin L. “Fast Eddie” Miller, 86, passed away on Sunday, September 3, 2017. Edwin was a lifetime resident of Syracuse and a communicant of Holy Family Church. He was a U.S. Navy veteran serving during the Korean Conflict. Edwin retired from Carrols Corporation in 1995 where he was supervisor of Computer Operations.
He was the first born of Edwin William Miller and Isabelle Wilamena Daz. The family resided on the Northside of Syracuse, and a sister, Dorothy Miller Wright soon joined them. Edwin enjoyed playing ball with his friends, fishing with his Dad, being an altar boy and riding his bike. He delivered newspapers for extra money and attended Holy Trinity and Assumption School.
As a young man, following in his father’s footsteps, Edwin joined the Navy and was assigned to a shakedown cruise on the USS Bennington off the coast of Cuba. On April 27, 1953 there was an explosion on the aircraft carrier. Some crew members perished and others were injured. Edwin was among the injured and spent months recovering in a military hospital in Guantanamo Bay Cuba. He returned home to Syracuse, NY and worked for Peter’s IGA on James St., where he met his bride, Fortunata Vecchio. From there Edwin went to school in the evening and learned an up and coming trade, computer programming. After graduation he took a job in computer operations with Carrols Corporation where he worked for 23 years until his retirement.
For many years the Miller Family resided on Burdick Ave. on the Northside where Edwin enjoyed keeping his lawn immaculate, having family cook outs, gardening, jogging, updating his model train village, playing cards with friends and spending time chatting with neighbors on lazy afternoons. Through his life Edwin was active in the church he loved, St. Peters, while a member of St. Peter's Church he was an usher for 40 years serving as head usher, treasurer and president. He also served with St. Peter’s Holy Name Society as treasure and President. He was the computer consultant for St. Peter’s and helped with Parish picnics, Bingo and other activities.
Edwin coached basketball for a Town of Clay league, attended religious retreats, enjoyed meeting the “gang” for weekend breakfasts, and traveling for getaways with friends and his wife to Toronto and Wildwood, NJ.
After the closing of his beloved St. Peter’s, Edwin and his wife became parishioners at St. Daniel’s Church. In his retirement Edwin enjoyed going to the gym and visiting with the “Rat Pack” there; swimming, spending time with family, eating cookies, working on the family genealogy, playing bocce at the lake, winter trips to Florida for Yankee Spring training, meeting longtime friends for breakfast on Sunday and catching up with family and friends on Facebook. His Family loved receiving his special computer made greeting cards from the “Miller Card Company”.
Edwin and his wife celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary in March of 2015 with family and friends at a small party where they received a Papal Blessing from Pope Francis.
Besides his parents, he was also predeceased by his sister, Dorothy Miller Wright, and granddaughter, Kristy Miller.
Edwin will be missed by his loving wife, Fortunata “Lucky” (Vecchio) Miller; his son, Edwin “Eddie” Miller, Jr., daughters, Diane (Bob) Colozzi and Patty (Bruno) Schirripa; four grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; daughter-in-law, Patricia Delles Miller; several nieces, nephews, cousins, and extended family, especially his great-niece, Melanie Lagstrom Segars. He asks that you think of him fondly.
Funeral services will be held at 9:00 am on Friday, September 8, 2017 at THOMAS J. PIRRO JR. FUNERAL HOME, followed by a Funeral Mass in celebration of Edwin’s life at 10:00 am in Holy Family Church. Burial with Military Honors will be in Onondaga County Veterans Cemetery. Family and friends may call from 4:00 – 7:00 pm on Thursday, September 7, 2017 at the funeral home, 3401 Vickery Rd. (corner of Buckley Rd.) North Syracuse, NY.
Donations can be made to Roman Catholic Diocese of Syracuse, 240 East Onondaga St., Syracuse, NY 13202.
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