“Retired guy” was George Miller’s way of answering the phone. He and his partners had been successful in the investment business and had agreed to retire when they made a certain amount of money. George boasted he was the only one who kept that promise – after which he moved on to a series of civic and philanthropic ventures.
George “not the Congressman” Miller (how he often introduced himself) passed away in early February. We’ll remember him not only for what he did for Restore Hetch Hetchy but also for the fun and special person that he was – as explained in Carl Nolte’s Sunday column in the San Francisco Chronicle: This little-known man made life a lot better for many Californians.
George Miller (right) at Hetch Hetchy in 2004 with Spreck Rosekrans (current RHH Executive Director, then an Analyst at the Environmental Defense Fund) Photo: Tim Connor
We knew George, albeit not well, in 2002 when we hosted Restore Hetch Hetchy’s first real public event – wine, cheese and a slide show at Galen Rowell’s gallery in Emeryville. George had been a supporter of various California River campaigns, and we were pleased when he sent us an RSVP that he’d be attending.
Coincidentally, George, recently retired, had just spent a year at UC Berkeley’s Bancroft Library cataloging the papers of Michael Maurice O’Shaughnessy – San Francisco’s Chief Engineer who built the dam, now named after him, at Hetch Hetchy. How would he feel about eliminating that dam?
The Christmas Card Michael O’Shaughnessy sent to his wife in 1919 (the dam was completed in 1923). George believed he regretted destroying the valley noting that O’Shaughnessy had told his wife they had spent too much money to turn back.
First of all, how many people take on such a laborious task immediately after retirement? George was proud of his work, although he did say that the sinus infections he got from the collection’s dusty papers almost killed him.
Second of all, how likely would George be to support getting rid of the dam, after he worked so hard to preserve the legacy of the guy who’d built it? Two answers here: (1) After reading letters O’Shaughnessy had written to his wife, George was convinced he thought damming the beautiful valley was a mistake, and (2) George thought, rather than removing the dam, it would be easier to leave it in place, drill a whole through the bottom to let the river pass through, and build the “Dam Hotel” on top.
George showed up at Galen Rowell’s gallery early that April evening in 2002, as volunteers were uncorking wine bottles and checking the projection system. He was a show up early kind of guy. The room eventually filled, people mingled, presenters spoke.
The next day George sent Restore Hetch Hetchy its biggest check ever. Founder and Executive Director Ron Good was ecstatic.
George then talked with Tom Graff, Regional Director at the Environmental Defense Fund. George offered to fund a study to make the case for restoration – an effort that would be authored by staff but include comprehensive research, attached as appendices, that was compiled by mainstream consultants. Of course the environmentalists would say restoration was feasible, but it would mean so much more if the engineers at Schlumberger and Eisenberg, Olivieri & Associates and as well as the attorneys at Somach, Simmons & Dunn agreed
The result was Paradise Regained: Solution for restoring Yosemite’s Hetch Hetchy Valley. Paradise Regained, published at the same time as a report by Sarah Null and Jay Lund of UC Davis, encouraged Assembly Members Lois Wolk and Joseph Canciamilla to write Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger who then authorized the State of California to investigate restoration. Schwarzenegger’s enthusiasm for restoring Hetch Hetchy faded after he lost unrelated special election initiatives in 2005, but the effort put the opportunity for restoration in the public eye where it has been ever since. Thank you, George!
George Miller, flanked by EDF’s Nancy Ryan and Tom Graff, tours Hetch Hetchy in San Francisco’s boat. Until the valley is restored, Restore Hetch Hetchy supports boating on the reservoir, albeit not with gas-powered engines.
During the course of researching Paradise Regained, we took a trip to Hetch Hetchy with George. To our surprise, San Francisco PUC General Manager Pat Martel allowed us to tour the reservoir in San Francisco’s boat. The boat driver was mightily amused that he was offering a tour to people who wanted to restore the valley and was happy to share stories of badly behaving San Francisco officials at Hetch Hetchy as long as we promised not to repeat them (we haven’t said a word, Senator Kopp).
Early Restore Hetch Hetchy strategy sessions and dinners were held at Sam’s – the classic San Francisco restaurant which George eventually bought to keep from closing. Kibbitzing on strategy, George would gently ask “Are you trying to make a point or are you trying to make a difference?” if anyone was getting high and mighty about calling out hypocrisy at San Francisco’s City Hall.
It was also at Sam’s that we lobbied Judge (and noted environmentalist) William Newsom, father of not-yet-elected Mayor Gavin, to convince his son to support restoration. We’ve had respectful but unfruitful meetings with Gavin – now California’s Governor.
George engaged in other numerous endeavors for the public good. He was an active board member of SPUR — the San Francisco Bay Area Planning and Urban Research Association. With his wife, George initiated a microloan program that helped many thousands of Viet Namese farmers lift themselves out of poverty. And George was especially proud to endow Miller Scholars at UC Berkeley, where he had earned an MBA at the Haas School of Business.
George was a proud and eccentric philanthropist. He said he wanted to live until 80, give all his money everything away, have a double vodka, and die broke. He lived to be almost 90, and I hope he enjoyed that double vodka before he passed.