An overflow crowd of more than 800 people gathered at Foothills Performing Arts Center on Sunday afternoon to celebrate the life and times of Mayor Richard "Dick" Miller.

The crowds filled every seat in the Bettiol Theater with folding chairs placed in the aisles and people lining the side walls of the theater.  An overflow crowd listened to the ceremony from chairs placed in the atrium.  A full contingent of Oneonta police and fire personnel, in their dress uniforms, formed a solid line across the back of the room.  The stage was set with an array of flower surrounding a large color photograph of a smiling Mayor Miller.  Four flags which meant a lot to him flanked the stage:  the official City of Oneonta flag (he was elected mayor twice), the flag from Middlebury College (his alma mater), the flag of Hartwick College (he was a former president of the college), and the American flag (Dick was a Vietnam War veteran).

Speeches were given by friends, colleagues and family members.  They ranged from sentimental and sweet to inspirational.  Dick's youngest son, Jason, summed up what he thought would be his Dad's feelings about the event.  "Dad would be uncomfortable about all the fuss, but he would have understood.  He hated funerals."

The crowd was made up of politicians, civic leaders, uniformed personnel, academicians,and ordinary folks who Dick touched over his years in Oneonta.  Former Mayors Kim Muller, David Brenner, John Nader and Sam Nader were all in attendance.

It was a warm and comforting sendoff to a man who meant so much to our beloved "City of the Hills."

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