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Miller -- Olga Vital Miller, a former Albuquerque resident and a retired biochemist, died at Judson Park in Cleveland, Ohio, on Nov. 24, 2002, after a long illness. Mrs. Miller was born in Budapest, Hungary, on October 8, 1917, the daughter of Alexander Vital and Berta (Neufeld) Vital. Her parents perished in the Holocaust. Mrs. Miller emigrated to Detroit in 1938, and lived there until 1941, when she married Ralph N. Miller; they divorced in 1974. Mrs. Miller earned her bachelor's degree from Northwestern University. She earned her master's degree in biochemistry from Michigan State University in 1958. Mrs. Miller lived in Evanston, Ill., from 1941 to 1947, and in Kalamazoo, Mich., from 1947 to 1986. She lived in Albuquerque, N.M., from 1986 to 2000, and at Judson Park in Cleveland, Ohio, for the last two years. Mrs. Miller taught math at the Vicksburg and Battle Creek high schools in Michigan for several years before earning her master�s degree. She then went to work as a biochemist for the former Upjohn Pharmaceutical Co. in Kalamazoo, MI. She worked for Upjohn from 1958 until she retired in 1986. Mrs. Miller studied clotting mechanisms, working primarily with prostaglandin. She chose her vocation at a time when women scientists were rare; during her long career, her keen intelligence, expertise and dedication would earn her many accolades. During her time in Albuquerque, Mrs. Miller grew to love Southwestern art and culture. For years she was a docent and a benefactor of the Pueblo Cultural Center. She also supported Habitat for Humanity, the Albuquerque Museum of Natural History, the Holocaust Museum in Washington, D.C., and many other charities. Mrs. Miller was an avid bridge player and mystery reader. She also enjoyed attending concerts and the theater, and loved to cross-country ski, golf and swim. An adventurous traveler, she journeyed to Europe, China and the Galapagos islands, among many other destinations. Mrs. Miller is survived by her beloved son, Peter and wife, Mary Lou of Shaker Heights, Ohio; her beloved son, Timothy and wife, Linda of Mount Kisco, N.Y.; five grandchildren, Susan, Judith, Jennifer, David and Carrie; four great-grandchildren, Matthew, Shelby, Isaiah and Stella; two nieces; three nephews; and many grandnieces and grandnephews. She was the sister of the late Zoltan Vital of Brussels, Belgium, and the late Bella Tihanyi of Corsica. A woman of extraordinary spirit, Mrs. Miller will be remembered with love. Contributions can be made in her honor to: Indian Pueblo Cultural Center 2401 12th Street NW Albuquerque, New Mexico 87192.
        Published on: Tue December 17, 2002