Michael Joseph Miller, M.D., joined Jesus in Heaven February 12, 2018 at the age of 84, after a brief illness.

Mike was a beloved brother, uncle and friend who touched all with his humor, generosity and genuine kindness.

Born in Portland May 18, 1933 to Paul E. and Vera M. (O’Brien) Miller, Mike was preceded in death by brothers, Paul E. Miller Jr. and Joseph A. Miller; his sister, Martha A. Altstadt; and niece Heidi.

He is survived by his sister, M. Susan Beal; sisters-in-law, Joyce and Barbara; his many nephews and nieces, Mark, Paul, Peter, John, Matt, Ginny, Susan, Libby, Roberta, Kim; and their families.

Mike was a longtime physician at Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) and Doernbecher Children’s Hospital, after completing his medical internship and residency at OHSU. During his lifelong commitment to helping others, Mike served as OHSU’s Associate Professor of Pediatric Infectious Disease (ID), Professor of Pediatrics and Associate Dean for Student Affairs. He received five Allen J. Hill Teaching Awards during his tenure. His dedication to education is reflected in the OHSU Michael Miller Faculty Teaching Award, which is awarded annually to a current pediatric faculty member who exemplifies Mike’s passion to teach. The graduating OHSU medical students choose the awardee each spring.

In addition to teaching, caring for patients and providing ID consultations at OHSU, Mike also served as an ID consultant to hospitals throughout the Portland area and provided lectures in the Navajo region of the Indian Health Service. Prior to his retirement in 2007, he served as director of OHSU’s student health center.

Mike received his Doctor of Medicine degree from University of Oregon in 1960 after graduating from the University of Santa Clara in 1955 with a Bachelor of Science. He completed a fellowship in Infectious Disease at Stanford in 1967 under Dr. Jack Remington. Mike attended St. Agatha’s Catholic School and Central Catholic High School in Portland.

Mike was doctor and mentor to many physicians and students who studied and served at OHSU and Doernbecher. If you know a doctor or healthcare professional who worked or trained at OHSU anytime from 1967 through 2007, undoubtedly they knew Mike and benefited from his wise counsel and humor. Outside the traditional instruction, Mike gave of his own time to teach critical thinking and diagnostic strategies in an informal setting to any student who wished to attend. It was a popular twice-a-week event the students named “Miller Time.” Many of his students (along with family and friends) also enjoyed the bashes he hosted at his dream beach house near Gearhart in the 1980s and ’90s.

So much of Mike’s life was devoted to his service as doctor and teacher but he also was a devout Catholic, caregiver and friend to all. Mike always wore his St. Christopher medallion and had a special adoration for the Blessed Virgin Mary. He spent many hours daily praying the Rosary. When he wasn’t praying, he was cooking. Mike’s gourmet skills and culinary delights kept us coming back for seconds and asking for the recipe. He typed up all his recipes, more than 5,000, to share with family and friends. When he wasn’t cooking, Mike was a real “foodie”, enjoying the top restaurants in Portland with family and friends. His passions included travel and several adventures with the Peace Corps. The continent of Africa held a special place in Mike’s heart. Trip after trip to Zimbabwe, Botswana, Ghana, South Africa, Kenya, Nigeria, Tanzania and Niger to bring updated medical information to help the people. He brought home many mementos of his travels there along with photos from safaris.

Whether you called him Mike, Doctor Mike, Doctor Miller, Doc, Uncle Mike, Gomer or Gome, he made a difference in your life and brought joy into any room he entered. As his good friend of many years, Dr. Bruce Blank said, Mike’s passing has left a hole in our hearts and, “the planet earth has just suffered a seismic shift.”

A rosary prayer service will be held at 6:30 p.m., March 8, 2018, at Riverview Abbey, 0319 S.W. Taylors Ferry Rd., Portland. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m., March 9, 2018, at St. Mary’s Cathedral, 1716 N.W. Davis St., Portland, followed by a reception.

Please consider making a memorial donation to Doernbecher Children’s Hospital.

Rosary Prayer Service

6:30 PM ,Thursday, March 8, 2018
Riverview Abbey Funeral Home
0319 SW Taylors Ferry Road Portland, OR 97219
Notes: A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m., March 9, 2018, at St. Mary’s Cathedral, 1716 N.W. Davis St., Portland, followed by a reception.