|
Bill Miller musician, teacher, husband, father, sailor, and former Rear-Commodore, Americas of Fireball International has died. Born Oct 2 1924 Bill Miller passed on Dec 9 at the age of 85. Bill was active in the class for over 35 years and served as the Vice-commodore through the 90's. Bill was an ardent supporter of this class, and traveled far and wide. His last big hurrah was the 2002 Worlds in Tampa which he sailed with his son Mark. Bill was inducted into the Distinguished Old Gentlemen Club (DOG) at the Worlds in Wrightsville Beach in 1992. To qualify as a DOG you need to be of the age of 65 or better and sailing at the Worlds. He sailed the 1996 Worlds in Kingston where he was joined by new DOG's , Bob Haining (CAN), Neville Pierce (NZL) and Malcolm Van Haeften (CAN) and Louis Smyth (IRL). Paul Miller and Mark were asked to share some of their memories of their father. Paul wrote "It is hard to pick any one or two memories that stand out but his demeanor was always steadfast and true, my brothers and I could never have asked for a better role model. Two "rides" come to mind that dad and I always argued were our fastest ride ever on a fireball. First in San Francisco Bay / St. Francis Yacht club in about 78 ( I think it was nationals). Just about every boat capsized around the jibe mark ( including Kess) right next to St. Francis and then we went on to the Alcatraz mark which Dad ( I disagree) stated was the fastest ride ever, back to back feet off the rail and kiss your ass goodbye reach ever. I think a ride at Dillon in 77 when a thunder storm came through blowing 50 to 60 with rain blowing sideways was it, we held on for 6 or 7 puffs with the chute up before going over, me full wire ( almost on a dead run). We brought (19.. whatever, banana ball or something I think it was) back up from turtle and finished the race half full of water (cause the storm had passed) only to find a boat finish ahead of us which didn't even put his chute up (what a sissy)." Similar memories are shared by Mark - "I know for myself that mine are scattered as I did not really get into sailing balls until a couple of years before I moved from Colorado to Annapolis, Md. I do remember taking a trip to Rapid City, South Dakota to pick up the "Ballin Banana" from the builder, as he met us half way. He was going somewhere else and set it up for dad to get the boat and since I was of driving age at that point I could help get it... another memory was after I moved here and then met him in Wrightsville Beach, for some event probably in the 1999 or 2000 time frame and racing on the ocean. (Ed Note - likely the 1992 Worlds at Wrightsville) To sail in a Fireball in the Atlantic ocean is very surreal. You find it hard to follow your competition when the WAVE ROLL is taller than your mast height. When you reach the top of a wave you try to catch your bearings and in the bottom of the trough there is no wind to sail by. It was a great time to sail with him. Then there was that time at Mid-winters in Tampa, around 2001, when we holed the bow of 14490 at the the start of the first race but did not know it until we got to the windward mark and realized that the bow was full of water and we almost swamped. It was fortunate that it was all downwind back to the Yacht club so we could drift right into the harbor. When we got to shore there was so much help to make sure the boat got bailed and fixed for the next day of racing that it was the spirit of the fleet that kept him going for all these 30 plus years. He was at home on a small boat but when I put him on the helm of the J24 that we bought it was a whole different story. He never got the feel of it so when he started sailing the Santana 20 it was a better fit with the size and feel like the Fireball. So at 81 when he stopped sailing Balls and he needed something for a transition boat to get his sailing fix the Santana fit the Bill ( no pun intended ) As Paul has stated we could not have hand picked a better set of parents to help us grow up. I say grow up, not grow old, because as you all know Bill never really grew old himself and I don`t think any of us will either as long as we maintain the same level of life and love he had. He had 85 years of memories and it is hard to fit that into only one short story. Everyone has there version of the man, Bill Miller,. Sailor, teacher, musician, husband, father, skier, inventor. I say "inventor" because of his ability to to create a wonderful life for his family and friends. He will be missed" Finally here are some recollections from Pat Crump who after Bill is likely the second most long lived North American Fireballer.... "Bill always turned up in a camper or RV. Over time, I also counted on him arriving before I did, that way I knew Topsy would always have hot coffee in the morning.....they were always generous on all counts...helping people, feeding people, coffeeing people....so later on, it was nice when we could help put him back together....at the Midwinter's, when Astral Planer (which sank after an egregious hole in the bow tank) was aptly re-named Sub-Astral Planer.....but was back out on the race course the next day, as though nothing had happened.....he was at Pymatuning one year when the stealthy prehistoric Yakasouruses (G2) ran loose in the woods one night and scared all of the Amish for mile around. And who can forget the most unique Fireball jacket ever made, from one of his old mainsails.. the dot on his back...he was always there...and as an icon of Fireball in North America he will be sorely missed." On behalf of Fireballers everywhere our condolences go to Topsy and the family. Mike McEvoy, Secretary/Treasurer, Canadian Fireball Association Dave White, Secretary, USIFA |
Fireball USA
