Barry Miller was born June 6, 1965, to Tracy and Loretta Miller. He was the oldest child of the family, being raised in Bergen, New York, a rural community he called home his entire life. Barry lived to give back to his hometown and dedicated his life to helping others, with a willingness to help anyone in need without asking for anything in return.
Barry served his community through the Bergen Fire Department, where he held many social offices, and as a member of the Bergen Town Board. He joined the fire department shortly after his high school graduation and remained a member, eventually becoming chief of emergency medical services, until his line-of-duty death in September 2015. Barry was responding to an emergency call when the ambulance he was riding in was involved in a motor vehicle accident. Barry always said that if he were to die, he wanted to be sliding into home plate at a hundred miles an hour with his hair on fire. Barry started the Bergen Fire Department EMS Explorer Program, where he mentored members and provided the needed training for becoming an emergency medical technician. He also served on the town council for several years and was appointed the deputy supervisor. Barry is remembered as an integral part of the Bergen community who organized and participated in numerous Genesee County events.
Barry graduated from Byron-Bergen High School in 1983. He attended Genesee Community College, earning an associate degree in computer repair technology in 1986. He went on to earn a bachelor’s degree from Roberts Wesleyan College in organizational management. He also graduated from Leadership Genesee in 2008. He worked as a computer repair technician and advanced his career to vice president of Business Methods, Inc. in the 1990s. In 1996, Barry started Miller Millworks, Inc., his own company that provided cabinet and finish carpentry in Bergen. As owner and CEO, Barry was a contractor and cabinet maker of lecterns, podiums, desks, and media centers. He also owned the Beaver River Lodge in the Adirondacks, a 125-year-old hotel located in the hamlet of Beaver River Station.
Barry will always be remembered as a highly supportive resident of the Bergen community and someone who was proud to help. Revered as an extremely generous man, one of his favorite ways to demonstrate his love and support of others was by supporting battered women and serving the people of Bergen and Genesee County. Barry also served as one of the Genesee County coroners.
His smile and laughter will be missed by his parents and his sister and her family, along with numerous friends in and around the fire department and lodge. Barry had a special gift of connecting with people that extended across our country.
