Sheldon "Shelly" B. Miller's Obituary
Sheldon “Shelly” B. Miller, age 90, passed away peacefully on Monday, November 13, 2023, in Aventura, Florida. Born April 25, 1933 in Brooklyn, New York, he was the son of the late, Morris & Frances Miller. He is also predeceased by his 3 siblings, Harry Miller, Samuel Miller, and Frances Gallant.
Shelly grew up on the streets of Rockaway Beach, New York where he roamed the beaches and played stickball from sunup to sundown. He split time in high school first at Far Rockaway Beach (Far Rockaway High School) and then Miami Beach (Lear School), where he graduated in 1950. He continued his schooling at the University of Georgia for 1 year before moving back to his beloved Miami Beach and transferring to the University of Miami, where he graduated in 1954. Shelly was an avid member of Alpha Epsilon Pi (AEPi) fraternity where he met many of his life-long friends.
After graduation, he worked at many sales jobs including running a land sales business. That helped forge a 50+ year successful career as a commercial real estate broker.
But it was his love of Miami Beach in the 1950’s and 1960’s that captivated his early life. He loved the nightclubs and big band era. If he wasn’t double dating with Hugh Hefner, escorting English Dutchesses to Havana, Cuba or spending time at his brothers Fort Montague Hotel in the Bahamas, you could always find him in his cabana at the Fontainebleau Hotel. He even ran the Miss Miami Beach pageant for many years.
It wasn’t until 1963 when he finally met Suzanne (Sayce) Miller, who he called “the best thing that ever happened to him”, and became his wife and mother of his two sons.
Shelly was an avid sports lover, growing up a Yankees fan and being a lifelong Dolphins fan. He instilled his love of sports in his kids, who followed in his footsteps. On the weekends he could be found playing tennis at the Jockey Club in North Miami. He also enjoyed his genre music from the 40’s, 50’s and 60’s and always had it playing in his apartment and car to this day. He had a passion for dancing as well, and could be seen gliding across the dance floor at the various galas and balls that he would attend.
He graced the lives of many as a devoted father, grandfather, and dear friend to many. His great sense of humor and charismatic personality captivated all around him; he was always the life of the party.
He is survived by his two sons, Jeffrey Miller (Suzanne), of Davie, Florida and Matthew Miller (Debbie), of Cooper City, Florida, and four grandchildren, Julianna, Jake, Benjamin and Brooke. In lieu of flowers the family requests memorial gifts be directed to Miami Jewish Health Systems-MIND Institute, https://foundation.miamijewishhealth.org/ways-to-give/give-now/ direct support to the MIND INSTITUTE. Services will be held Sunday, November 19, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. at Levitt-Weinstein Blasberg-Rubin-Zilbert Memorial Chapel, 18840 W. Dixie Highway, North Miami Beach, (305) 932-2700.
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