Daniel Leeds Miller IV
Niantic — Daniel Leeds Miller IV, formerly of Niantic, passed away last weekend in his Shapleigh, Maine, home. Daniel was born Oct. 6, 1952, in Elizabeth, N.J. He summered on the Connecticut seashore before eventually moving to Niantic with his parents, Daniel and Margaret Miller, and two siblings, Margaret and David, early on in grade school. He was known by his teachers at Lillie B. Haynes as a conscientious student and sometimes walked home in the woods on early release days much to his mother’s chagrin. He graduated from East Lyme High School in 1970 and was drafted into the Army shortly afterward. “Leeds” as some knew him, worked as a lead pressman for R.R. Donnelley in Old Saybrook for over 20 years until the plant closed. He used that as an opportunity to sell his house in Old Saybrook and use the funds and time to explore the nation by way of motorcycle. He took this opportunity to both reunite with old friends and develop new ones along the way. After visiting nearly every national park, he returned to Niantic to learn the ins and outs of the welding trade before becoming a valued member of New England Pump and Valve. After more than 10 years as a welder he retired in 2017.
Daniel had two boys, Daniel and Jason. Unfortunately, he lost his eldest son, Daniel, in 1977. He is survived by both his siblings, Margaret Howard of Niantic and David Gordon Miller and his wife, Michele of Manhattan Beach, Calif.; his son Jason Miller and his wife, Christine, of Dover, N.H.; his two grandchildren, Bjorn and Svea Miller.
Five years ago, as he looked forward to retirement, Daniel bought a piece of property in Shapleigh, Maine, in order to be closer to his grandchildren. He immediately started planning and building the home he longed to have. He was skilled at every task he tackled and he was enormously helpful to his family and friends who needed him because he enjoyed fabricating and problem solving immensely. More than anything, he enjoyed riding his motorcycles and looked forward to one more cross-country journey before he hung up his saddle bags.