Vermont lost one of its most generous — and colorful — philanthropists on Tuesday, February 4, when developer Robert “Bobby” Miller died of a heart attack, at the age of 84.
A self-made man who grew up dirt poor in Rutland, Miller gave away millions to Vermont nonprofits in cash donations and in-kind work through his company, REM Development. He and his wife, Holly, who survives him, contributed to the King Street Center, Champlain College, the Visiting Nurse Association, the VNA Respite House, Flynn Center for the Performing Arts and many other local organizations. Their 2013 contribution to the University of Vermont Medical Center was valued at $13 million.
Miller invented himself. With just a high school education, and a winning combination of charm and audacity, he worked his way up through the building industry in Vermont. Despite losing an arm at birth, he became an auto mechanic, then convinced a Burlington engineering firm to hire him as a draftsman. After learning on the job, he started New England Air Systems in 1972. Twelve years later, he sold the business to his employees. “It gets companies spread out to people who would never own them,” he told me when I profiled the Millers 20 years ago in Seven Days. He started REM Development in 1984. Although it is based in Chittenden County, the company also built, bought and rehabbed properties in downtown Newport and Rutland.
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Despite his financial success, Miller was not a typical businessman. He preferred verbal agreements to written ones and engaged in all manner of creative financing to spark economic development. He happily rented office space to Seven Days when the paper started in 1995 — a windowless room in the basement of his building, Miller’s Landmark, at the top of Burlington’s Church Street. He suggested we pay $300 a month for the first year and, if Seven Days were still in business at the end of it, we could pay him the difference between that sum and the real rent — aka a balloon payment.
We had nothing in writing — just a handshake deal. When I expressed concern, Miller held out his good arm and suggested with his signature grin: “Touch me, I’m gold.”
In so many ways, he was.
Visiting hours are Tuesday, February 11, from 3-6 p.m. at the Robert E. Miller Expo Center in Essex Junction. A Celebration of Life is scheduled in the same venue on Wednesday, February 12 at 11 a.m. Burial will be held privately in the spring.
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Talk about “giving back” — what an inspiration, a true gem of a man. His passing is a tremendous loss to our community.
RIP Mr. Miller you were a good man.
Bob was perhaps the most pure developer Vermont has witnessed. His willingness to work with anyone, and create deals that benefited all parties including entire communities and municipalities, was unmatched. He will be sorely missed in more ways than can ever be counted. A true steward of Vermont and its people.
Bobby was right….he was gold, and it was all kinds of gold…..starting with his heart of gold. He was a joy to work with, so innovative, imaginative. He could spontaneously find a way to solve problems and create positive energy while making profit and giving it away. He and Holly truly believed, and proved, that every generous action comes back ten times over. My deepest sympathy to Holly and their family; I am sure they all know what a treasure Bobby was.
a life well lived
Bobby was an amazing man. When we first leased space from him, we were a very small company with no real credit history, just big plans. Bobby leased the space on a handshake. Almost 20 years later, we are still tenants, through moves, expansions and one contraction.
We lost a big contract and called Bobby, to see what we could do to downsize our space. Bobby showed up and had the same ideas as we did for splitting the space. I asked about buyout costs for the unused space, and Bobby let us know there would be no cost. Find another landlord anywhere who would put our interest ahead of his, or define his best interests as keeping us as a tenant for the remaining space. He inspired incredible loyalty, and was beyond fair and honorable. We will miss him.
One hell of a man, an icon of thoughtful care
He will be missed
Wow…this is heavy, sad news. Indeed an amazing life and talk about a huge impact made in this state by his generosity and thoughtfulness. He’ll be very missed and my heart goes out to the rest of the family.
I knew Bobby Miller from snowmobiling and my father, Bill Oakes, worked with him. Back when he opened New England Air, he told my father, “Bill, come with me, I’ll make you rich.” Well, Dad stayed put and didn’t go with Bobby. My dad just thought the world of “That one armed bandit.” I have so many fond memories and Mom and I laughed about them all last night and this morning. He was one helluva man. Travel Well Good Sir!
Bobby for several years donated empty space in his buildings for the northern VT region ski patrols to hold their Outdoor Emergency Care course. Not a huge lift for him obviously but it just shows that even helping in small ways mattered. When I took the class in 2006 he came in to observe several times, just quietly smiling. We need a lot more Bobby Millers in today’s world.
Bless him and his wife for their generosity with the McLure Miller Respite House among so many others.
So touched and inspired to see the difference someone as giving as he was can make.
Thoughts and prayers to his family and friends.
🙏❤️🙏
What a pleasure it was to know him, he always treated me so kindly. I was proud to call him my friend.
Thanks Bob for all you have done, you will be remembered forever.
I share heartfelt condolences to the family of Bobby Miller. He helped me grow a small business back in the late seventies and eighties. I still admire his keen sense of loyalty to those who were loyal to him! His work day started 3-4 hours ahead of most! He will be greatly missed and admired for many decades to come. God bless you Bobby!
Stu King