Irwin Miller longtime community leader

Irwin Harold Miller, 84, of St. Pete Bech, died Feb. 27. He is being remembered and honored as a pillar of the Jewish community for more than half a century.

Among the many Jewish causes he was involved in numerous leadership roles were St. Petersburg’s Temple Beth-El, where he served as president and for more than 40 years as a board member; Menorah Manor, which he helped found and over the years served in numerous leadership roles including chairman, president and board member as well as chairman and president of the Menorah Manor Foundation; the Jewish Federation of Pinellas & Pasco Counties and T.O.P. Jewish Foundation.

In the general community, he was involved in All-Children’s Hospital, the Pinellas County Science Center and Habitat for Humanity.

His honors included the National Conference of Christians and Jews Silver Medallion Humanitarian Award; the Jewish Federation’s highest honor, the Yitz- hak Rabin Memorial Award for Community Service, Menorah Manor Outstanding Leadership Award and the Israel Peace medal from State of Israel Bonds.

At his funeral, Rabbi Michael Torop of Temple Beth-El described Miller as “... a leader who helped break down the barriers to Jews here in St. Pete by being an outstanding and exemplary resident of the city and also a member of its Jewish community.”

Last June, Miller and his family were honored for their 75 years of service to the temple.

Miller was born in Brooklyn, NY in 1925 and came to St. Petersburg with his parents Jacob and Harriet Miller, when he was three months old at the height of the real estate boom.

His parents helped found Temple Beth-El in 1928 and his father, Jacob, served as president for three different terms. The senior Millers ultimately built the Rellim (Miller backwards) hotel on St. Pete Beach in 1941 as a winter resort primarily for Jewish guests.

After graduating from St. Petersburg High School, Irwin earned an engineering degree from Cornell University in 1944 and then joined the U.S. Navy. Afterward he returned to St. Petersburg and married Sonya Haliczer in 1948.

Following his father’s death in 1956, Irwin and Sonya ran the Rellim until it was sold in 1981. In the summer, it was a swim club for local Jewish families at the time when many clubs refused to admit Jews.

Irwin also co-founded the Guardian Bank and the First Central Bank with Dr. Philip Benjamin, who was the husband of Sonya’s sister. He also invested in and owned business properties.

He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Sonya of St. Pete Beach, sons Howard and Jay and daughter in-law Jan, daughter Jan and son-in-law Craig Sher and grandchildren Jessica Sher, Alison Sher, Stacy and Will Conroy, Rachel and Paul Miller and Lina and Naomi Miller.

The family suggests donations to Temple Beth-El or Menorah Manor. (David C. Gross Funeral Homes-Beth David Chapel)