Terry Stratton Miller, 71
EAST HAMPTON, N.Y. — Terry Stratton Miller, an 11th generation Miller, passed away on April 25, 2021.
Born to Stratton Miller and Dorothy Rogers, of old Bridgehampton. Terry came into this world on March 1, 1950, and was an only child.
Her father was the youngest of 8, so Terry grew up in the close community of Millers that populated the Springs Fireplace Road neighborhood in East Hampton, surrounding the family farm, the largest working farm in the area at the time. Terry enjoyed a childhood filled with animals from the barn, cousins and neighborhood children.
Growing up, Terry's Aunt Molly Miller Sargent, shared their large family farmhouse and was a great influence on her. So much so, she obtained a masters of science in education from Hofstra University and followed in Aunt Molly's footsteps to become a valued educator in New York at Springs School, where Terry taught for 35 years. Terry found her niche as a Reading Specialist, where she excelled in diagnosing reading difficulties and finding the right curriculum for each child. Terry believed that there was no one reading program that worked for all children. Terry retired in 2010 after touching the lives of hundreds of students by improving their literacy skills.
Terry split her time between her home in Hinsdale, Mass. and East Hampton. Her hobbies included basketball, golf, cross country skiing, and knitting. With coworkers, she was involved in making 'caps for kids' for newborns at Southampton Hospital. She was also a member of the Hinsdale Knit and Crochet Group in Massachusetts. But her true passion were the many beloved Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers she had over her lifetime. Hunter, her dog up until the time of Terry's passing, was a titled tracking dog and the center of her world. Throughout her life, she participated in many canine sports and also was well known in the breed ring. She became a member of the Pioneer Valley Kennel Club in 2009. Although COVID and her battle with cancer kept her from participating this past year, that didn't keep her from supporting the other members. Being one who never held back her thoughts in any arena, Terry enjoyed "coaching" from her home in East Hampton by reviewing training videos and sharing her thoughts, regardless of what they were.
Terry was a financial supporter and member of the Presbyterian Church of East Hampton, where she was a very talented member in ringing the bells in the Hand Bell Choir.
A grave side memorial service is planned for this summer. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Terry's memory online at 4H Foundation of New Hampshire, where it will benefit children and her dog Hunter who is now part of that program