Gary S. Miller, 60, of Lancaster died Friday, September 27, 2019, with his sister Melanie and life-long friends: Lisa Rutt, Jason Dickerson and Denise Buckwalter by his side. Gary was the son of the late Tommie L. and Joyce Miller of Berwyn, PA.

In 1977, Gary graduated from Conestoga Senior High School in Berwyn, earning a letter as a member of the Rugby team. An extremely talented and gifted performer, he attended Bloomsburg University as a theatre major, and reveled in his memories of fraternity days as a Beta Sigma Delta and countless theatrical productions. He performed in live theatre throughout his life, a very broad range, from Shakespeare to plays about social justice, a topic never far from Gary's mind as his intolerance for intolerance was a lifelong conversation.

Professionally, Gary wore many hats in addition to the theatre. He managed the Chameleon Night Club for over a decade, played percussion and loved performing with Inca Campers, DC and Company and The Willie Marble Experience. He dedicated 15 years to serving disabled youth as a Job Trainer for the Lancaster-Lebanon IU 13. Gary was an incredible example and inspiration for students he served, as he walked alongside their struggles. Walking was difficult for Gary as a double amputee, but walk he did, never yielding to the pain, always with a smile, offering the gift of his extraordinary spirit to the students and families who adored him.

Gary was a regular at Grateful Dead shows and the Peach Festival. His deep respect for music and musicians and his vast knowledge and appreciation for of all genres, made live music one of the joys of Gary's life. It wasn't physically easy to attend these events, but he never missed a chance to go, attending a Dead show as recently as this summer despite his declining health.

Gary was an avid reader, sometimes reading as many as 10 books a month. His vocabulary was second to none. His formidable intellect and effervescence was the gift he gave to anyone fortunate enough to know him. Gary Miller is a vocabulary word in and of itself to his countless friends and family. There is no one like him and mere words cannot describe the magical man we loved and lost. The energy and brightness of spirit he brought to everyone, no matter how his body felt, was so unique and precious, that it can only be described as Gary Miller.

Gary is survived by his brother, Donald Miller of Berwyn; his sister, Melanie Miller of Baltimore, MD, and a niece Danieka King of Philadelphia; his aunts: Barbara Nearon (Charles) Brenda Spells, and Kathleen Marshall; his cousins: Whitney Weldon, Stacey Weldon, Tania Pearson, Judy Turnquest, Quinton Nearon, Sydney Marshall, III, and Gwen Burruss. He is also survived by his Lancaster family: Alex and Lisa Rutt, and their sons, Lance and Lucas.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Gary's name to Music for Everyone ( www.musicforeveryone.org ), so the Lancaster community can benefit from the music Gary loved. A Celebration of Gary's Life will be held on Saturday, October 26, 2019 at 2PM at the Charles F. Snyder, Jr. Funeral Home and Crematory, 3110 Lititz Pike, Lititz, PA 17543. Friends and family will be received from 1PM to 2PM. Immediately following the Celebration of Gary's Life, a reception will be held at Tellus 360, 24 East King Street, Lancaster, PA 17602