Wednesday, May 16, 2001
Hollywood, hometown mourn loss of Miller
 

By John Decker TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER

Whether you knew him as an actor, director, writer, loved one, friend, neighbor, or the guy you saw walking along the streets of Scranton from time to time, it's Jason Miller's "spirit" that will transcend.

Just as the disciples of Jesus had a great desire to spread the word of God, Monsignor Paul Leonard said Mr. Miller had a burning "to express the fire inside him."

"That's the nature of an artist," Monsignor Leonard said during Mr. Miller's memorial Mass on Wednesday morning at St. Patrick's Church on Jackson Street.

Though his request was granted to have his body cremated soon after his death, the public Mass gave about 300 friends and neighbors the opportunity to offer prayers and a final farewell to one of Scranton's most cherished sons.

Mr. Miller's son, actor Jason Patric, said his father lived here because he loved Scranton and its people.

And as it was said during the eulogy, Scranton loved him.

"He was probably most understood by the very people who were here today and that's why he wanted to live his life here," Mr. Patric said after the service. "These are the people he responded to. I'm just happy it ended here."

Mr. Patric said his father was never concerned about his image or other people's perceptions.

"He was more concerned with the people who would never be in the spotlight. And I think that adds a certain legacy to the people," Mr. Pat- ric said.

Before he knew his father to be a celebrity, Mr. Patric knew him as dad and he shared his earliest boyhood memories during the memorial. Wearing loafers and no socks as a tribute to his father, Mr. Patric recalled lying on his father's chest and being lifted by the rhythm of his breathing and the words of Shakespeare coming from his lips.

Joshua Miller, another son, was writing a play with his father in which a father and son co-write a script. The father dies, leaving the son to carry on the work. Joshua taped his father recently discussing the play and played the tape.

"As a son, I'm deeply saddened that life has imitated art in my life," he said. "And I have lost one of my best friends."

The words on the tape could barely be heard, but it allowed all who loved Jason Miller to hear his voice one last time.

Joseph X. Flannery, Scranton Times columnist and good friend to the late playwright, was asked to speak by the family to represent the local people who knew Mr. Miller.

Mr. Flannery said that when Mr. Miller opened his mouth, "It was like a poet speaking. He understood human nature to the point he could invent people and make them come alive."

It was that talent that made Mr. Miller widely known.

In 1973, he was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for his Tony award-winning play, "That Championship Season," set in the Lackawanna Valley and rooted in Mr. Miller's experience as a member of the St. Patrick's High School basketball team in the 1950s.

Speaking earlier this year, Mr. Miller said of the play, "I think it speaks to universal experiences -- that of betrayal and that of forgiveness ... it is in a sense more of a love play than a hate play, and then there is an epiphany -- a redemption."

He was also nominated for an Academy Award as best supporting actor in the movie, "The Exorcist." He won an Emmy for his role in "Marilyn" on television. In the 1980s, he returned to Scranton, where he established the Pennsylvania Summer Theater Festival.

After his return, Mr. Miller worked out of his downtown Scranton apartment, often on local theater projects. He was scheduled to play Oscar Madison this summer in SPT's production of "The Odd Couple."

He died on Sunday of a massive heart attack at a downtown pub.

His passing deeply touched and shocked his friend, actor Martin Sheen. He starred in "That Championship Season," and attended Wednesday's service.

Mr. Sheen said he and Mr. Miller used to talk about death.

"We agreed it was a drag," Mr. Sheen said with a grin.

As a contemporary, Mr. Sheen was an admirer of his friend's abilities.

"Jason had that gift of words, image and spirit that only the poet has."

A poem Mr. Miller wrote several years ago about his own father was available at the church for people to take as they entered.

Mr. Sheen had never seen the piece before, and said he was moved by the work.

"He adored his father. His father was his first God."

Mr. Miller was described by Mr. Sheen as a "man of profound spirituality."

"He was a mark of his life and his work, and he embraced it ...

Mr. Sheen also said it's very rare when an artist lives where he was raised, noting the rarity and how it would take a special person to rise above it.

"He was comfortable here. He could do what he loved doing best, and he didn't have to compromise."

Mr. Flannery reminded the people of Scranton how lucky they were when Mr. Miller became weary of Hollywood and moved back home. "Once in a lifetime we may be graced with someone like Jason ... Jason, whose spirit is with us, I say farewell, it was a pleasure to know you."




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