The Rural We: Catherine Miller
The Sheffield resident has had a long and varied history of service to the community.
When you look at the list of organizations that Catherine Miller has been involved with, you have to wonder how she has the energy to do it all. The Sheffield resident has an answer: “I was born with a gene that is somehow connected with Duracell batteries.” Her current responsibilities include serving as clerk of the Sheffield Historical Society Board and member of its finance committee; volunteer manager and principal buyer for the Historical Society’s Stone Store; president of the Pine Grove Cemetery Association; and member of several committees of Christ Trinity Church. Her bio sheet lists an astounding number of other organizations she’s either started or held a leadership position with. And she’s not done yet.
I am from Upstate New York and moved to the area when my husband got a teaching job in Albany. I was a college administrator and teacher of psychology at SUNY Albany and then Simon’s Rock. We’ve been in the Berkshires for almost 50 years and love it — wouldn’t move for a minute.
After I left teaching I became a partner at Wheeler & Taylor Real Estate. I had been hired and trained to become a broker and then became a vice president. I started the office in Sheffield and grew the business.
My motivation for all of my community service dates back to what I learned as a child from my parents. They taught me that part of being alive in this world is to give back. I enjoy being engaged and seeing things happen. I like to think that I’m creative and have ideas, and can get people engaged in being productive and contributing members of society.
There are a few organizations that I’ve been involved with that stand out in my mind. One near and dear to me is The Eagle Fund for the Southern Berkshire Regional School District, an educational excellence program started over 20 years ago. Some kids are limited in the kinds of experiences they have because we’re a small and rural area; they’re just not exposed to lots of aspects they should be. The Eagle Fund helps take students beyond the basics. To date we’ve given over half a million dollars to schools, teachers and students.
I’m big on history and keen on learning, so the Sheffield Historical Society has been a special organization for me. The American Red Cross has also been a big part of my life. I was fortunate to serve on the national board for six years, which took me to Washington, D.C., where I met an extraordinary number of prominent and successful people.
In the health arena, I got involved in the Community Health Programs when it started and have been on the board through its various stages of growth. Now it’s huge and has a presence throughout the county, serving some 30,000 patients. That was an amazing experience to have been involved with.
The Glory Be Clown Troupe was kind of a goofy thing I participated in that was really rewarding. We were a bunch of crazy ladies who wrote our own work and performed at senior centers, churches, schools and other places. It was all charitable work but we had a ball getting into costume and becoming somebody we’re not.
I’m also an avid cyclist — I’ll ride my bicycle forever and ever. And I love to quilt; people are flabbergasted that I can sit long enough to do that.
I love life. I’m grateful when I get up every morning and have a new day. I’ve had a good life and try to find ways to help people have better lives, too.
