MILLER, Karen B.
Karen Louisa Rowena Anastasia
Salmon Bozogan Miller, RN, longest serving nurse in the Brookline School District
Karen B. Miller of Brookline, b. January 2, 1944 in Oklahoma City, OK, passed away peacefully, at home, on February 29, 2024. (Just like her to die on a leap day so we could all debate when to mark the anniversary.) Wife, mother, grammy, sister, aunt, and matriarch to a large and widespread family, she leaves her husband of 52 years, Peter B. Miller; her children, Dominique Ferdinand (Jean-Claude), Jedidiah Miller (Kelley Cabral), Sarah Miller, Alec Hale, Isaac Hale, and Beth Sabbagh; her grandchildren, Sophie, Riley, Rowan, Emilie, and Maeve; her sister, Lisa Bozogan (Dan); her brother, Matthew Bozogan (Theresa); and beloved nieces; nephews; and other relatives, Alena, Keelin (Nora), and Aiden Banks, David (Monica) and Nicole Salmon, Amanda Bozogan, Evan Bozogan, Nina Cummins (Patrick), Jason Kahan (Lara), Nigel Kraus
(Kay), Toni Dunleavy (Peter) and Stephen Miller (Rick); her cat, Puck; and her dog, Mookie Betts. Karen was predeceased by her brother, David Salmon (Barbara, also deceased).
Karen grew up in Monroe, CT, and lived Portland, ME, Brookline, MA, Santa Cruz, CA, and Cold Spring, NY, before resettling in Brookline in 1977. A lifetime caretaker, she devoted four decades as a nurse in the Brookline Public Schools, most extensively at the Amos A. Lawrence School, where she tended to the medical, psychological, and professional needs of K-12 students and staff alike, provided
CPR and practical training to literally generations of babysitters and nurses, and participated in a town-wide school leadership group. Her tenure was marked by the high regard in which she was held by students, parents, teachers, administrators, and nurses across the district. She made decades of children feel heard, valued, and cared for and helped them believe that they belonged. An early adopter of technology, she and her friends started a computer gaming club in the 1980’s, The Brookline Adventurers, and she was the go-to person helping colleagues transition to completely electronic health records. With a family active throughout the town, including three generations working in the schools, Karen’s extensive community involvement was especially marked as a longtime Soprano and board member of the Coolidge Corner Community Chorus. She touched countless lives with her open heart and direct, no-nonsense way. Her “family” was almost limitless, and she will be missed by all.
A Memorial Celebration of Karen’s Life will be held this spring at the Lawrence School, date and time to be announced. The family is home this week and welcomes friends and loved ones to come by to share memories and stories on Wednesday, March 6th, between 1:00 and 4:00pm. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Brookline Education Fund or the Coolidge Corner Community Chorus.