silvia

In Memory of Silvia Miller
Every year the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at UCSC awards scholarships to a number of deserving UCSC re-entry students. Re-entry students are defined as undergraduates age 25 or older, veterans of any age, and students of any age who are also parents. The awards are named in memory of Silvia Miller, a member of UCSC Lifelong Learners [our predecessor organization], who began the program with a rummage sale in 1988. That first year they raised enough to give five $50 scholarships. The program has grown steadily since then, and we now offer $300 scholarships for each academic quarter of their first year at UCSC.

There are many more deserving students than we can help, so donations to the Silvia Miller scholarship program are very welcome, and they are fully tax-deductible as allowed by law. To donate to the Silvia Miller Fund please make your check out to the UCSC Foundation and write "Silvia Miller Fund" in the memo line. Then mail it to Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, c/o STARS, 1156 High Street, Santa Cruz, CA 95064. Or donate online here:

[|Donate to the Silvia Miller Scholarship Fund]

Personal Reminiscences of Silvia Miller
The following personal reminiscences of Silvia Miller were provided by Jim Faris and Corinne Miller:

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Silvia Miller was born in 1919. She grew up in Chicago during the depression in what I would think was a low- to middle-income family with one brother. As was common at the time, her parents decided that her brother would go to college. Silvia had been an A student in high school but was told she had to get a job, which I imagine was to help the family resources. She worked all her adult life as a secretary. Her brother became a psychiatrist. She had a strong desire to attend college and earn a degree. After the death of her husband and having raised two sons, one becoming a psychiatrist, the other a psychologist, she retired and moved to Santa Cruz to attend the University. Her goal was to earn a degree.

She enrolled in 1982, and despite physical problems, open-heart surgery, she became a full-time student. All who knew her admired her determination in pursuing her goal. She and I took one class together and we would sit together often arguing about one thing or another. Many of our fellow students thought we were married. I guess most thought that anyone who had such obvious conflicts, expressed so openly, must be married.

Silvia graduated in 1990 with a bachelors degree. Unfortunately her heart gave out and she died in 1992, but she had triumphed in attaining her goal. When I was on the Lifelong Learners Board, I made a motion that we call the scholarship fund after her. It was so passed. She was a strong person, representing the best of motives, and had a kind, generous, and loving personality. I not only admired her courage and spirit but considered her a good friend. She was truly a lifelong learner.

Jim Faris

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I have so many great memories of Silvia. She often came to the Re-Entry Center to say hello and study and sometimes we'd have lunch or dinner together.

Silvia entered UCSC the year my son Morgan was born and I was bringing him to work with me. Silvia would always come in with a treat or little present for Morgan and would play with him for a long time. Of course, he loved her (and I really appreciated having some undistracted time to get my work done!). For ten years, Silvia and Morgan continued their friendship. He spoke at her memorial service at Temple Beth El, referring to her as his adopted grandma.

At one point, I remember we helped her pack up her home in the Outlook Apartments because she was moving to Israel. She had been studying the Ethiopian Jews who had found refuge there and, among other things, she wanted to continue her research. I admired so much her adventurous spirit. Israel seemed so far away to me and she was making this great change in her life, alone and with such gusto.

I also remember having a conversation with her about wanting to help the re-entry students because she saw how they struggled to balance their lives and make ends meet financially. She also very much wanted to send them a message that someone believed in them and their dreams of obtaining a college degree. So, to raise money, she, Betty Bernstein and Margaret Burns spear-headed a rummage sale they held one week-end morning at the Children's Center at the Granary. This was the initiation of the Lifelong Learners Book Award Program and they awarded $250 that first year.

Corinne Miller