Marguerite Klein Miller
By Fang
When people talk about Marguerite Klein Miller, they recall a woman of conviction, an outspoken organizer of people, a creator of fun and sharing, an individual who got things done and "told it like it was," a gal who cherished many things from her race horses to her Chesterfields. And one of those things was the Old Timers Reunion. Marguerite was born March 21, 1926 in Washington, D.C. She was a lifelong resident of that area, and an ardent Redskins fan. Her younger sibling, Jack, said in fond tribute to her that she loved "life, challenge, adventure, and being an American."
She also loved caving. Her ventures into caving followed a journey out west in '49 with her high school chum, Mary Jane Cullinane. Intrigued with the underworld, she commenced to caving with an acquaintance she met through a close neighbor. That fellow was Bill Stephenson and he became a lifelong friend. Marguerite's next-door-neighbor, Arthur Miller, worked with Bill at the Patent Office and arranged an introduction to the NSS Founder. That over-the-fence friendship in Chevy Chase, Maryland blossomed into romance after Arthur's wife died. Marguerite married Arthur in '72 when she was 46 and he was 25 years her senior. They enjoyed 15 years of travel, float trips down the Shenandoah, and 4th of July crab feasts on the Rappahannock together.
Although for a brief stint, she was a high school girls' Phys Ed instructor, Marguerite had a long career at Superior Court in Washington, D.C. as Deputy Clerk, Appeals Coordinator.
During her active years in caving, Marguerite was an avid surveyor and oversaw trips for novices and veterans alike. As Jack remembers, he was 25 when his sister invited him down to Breathing Cave in the Burnsville Cove of Virginia where they hauled equipment in to measure the cave's airflow. She firmly upheld safe caving practices and was an early supporter and lifetime member of the NSS, attending the week-long Floyd Collins expedition where she made national news after suffering an asthma attack in the cave. Marguerite also served as editor of the Speleograph, the newsletter of D.C. Grotto.
Marguerite chaired the 9th and 10th Old Timers' Reunions held in 1958 and 1959 in Franklin, West Virginia. In the late '70's, as OTR mushroomed in attendance, she took an active role in the formation of The Robertson Association (TRA) and was a charter Trustee. In tribute, the TRA Board designated her Trustee Emeritus in '99. Marguerite missed only one Reunion until her health prevented her from participating in OTR. According to her brother, Jack, she didn't want to lag too far behind Ackie Loyd, the longest reigning OTR attendee. Jerry Nettles recalls that you were on the "In" list if you happened to capture an invite to Marguerite's hotel room where the partying and laughter extended long into the night. Her beverage of choice initially was scotch, but converted to tequila following a trip to Mexico where she discovered a drink named in her honor ¼ Margaritas! Those late hours must've taken a toll, because Jack recalls she found it difficult to rise too early in the morning and was late to her final TRA Board Meeting held at the large White House tent.
Aside from caving, Marguerite bred horses and raced them in Maryland. She loved sports. She traveled extensively and delighted in sharing a story that the only time she encountered difficulty with the language was in England. Marguerite was diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease in January 1995 and passed away Monday, December 13th, 1999.
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