Carl Miller, a long-time newspaper man and former editor with The Denver Post, died Aug. 5 at his Denver home of an apparent heart attack. Miller was 77.
Miller, who joined the Post in 1977 as a reporter, served the newspaper and its readers as editorial page editor and political editor during the 1980s. As capitol bureau chief at The Post, Miller led a six-person statehouse team covering the legislature, the governor’s office and politics.
“He had this tremendous energy and enthusiasm,” said Todd Engdahl, a former executive city editor at the Post. “He was constantly on, constantly going at 60 mph or more.”
Miller’s energy and enthusiasm was contagious, Engdahl said, and various staff members at the paper fed off of it and were inspired.
“He had this energizing effect,” Engdahl recalled.
During a long and varied career, Miller also served as press secretary for Colorado Gov. Dick Lamm, during the governor’s first term in office.
“He was a professional who knew his business and had credibility,” Lamm said. “When Carl said it, nobody challenged it.”
Lamm also recalled Miller as a staffer who had a positive influence on colleagues.
“He was the oil can that sort of made a lot of the staff work,” Lamm said. “He was really collegial with other people, he brought the best out in the rest of the staff.”
Miller was also city editor at the former Colorado Springs Sun and regional director of governmental relations at Colorado Blue Cross Blue Shield, which became Anthem. Miller retired from Anthem in 2008.
In 2009, Miller and his wife, Bonnie Sherman, purchased the scuba diving business Denver Divers in Cherry Creek North. His family continues to run the business.
He is survived by his wife; two daughters, Ali Miller and Brittany Miller, both of Denver; and a son, Troy Miller, of Colorado Springs.
Two events to celebrate Miller’s life are scheduled on Aug. 21. A “memorial roast” will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Denver Press Club, 1330 Glenarm Place in Denver. At 5 p.m., friends are invited to bring a potluck dish — among Miller’s favorite foods — to Denver Divers, 557 Milwaukee St. in Denver.
Family asks that anyone attending either event, or both, RSVP to alimiller18@gmail.com.
