Charles "Dusty" Miller, longtime director of the University of Oregon's Erb Memorial Union, passed away last weekend after complications from a fall. He was 65.

A memorial celebration honoring Miller will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 12, in the Erb Memorial Union Ballroom. His family has asked that friends and colleagues join and share their "Dusty stories." 

Miller came to the University in 1992 after working in student unions on other campuses since his college days at SUNY Buffalo.  He led the EMU through renovations in the mid-1990s, and his vision for a modernized student union and tenacious pursuit of student and institutional support is the bedrock on which the current EMU renovation proposal is based.

He retired in 2010.

In an interview with the Emerald as he prepared for his retirement, Miller gave this sage advice: “Don’t sell yourself short. Think globally (and) to the future. Take calculated risks. Don’t lose your idealism. Have fun.” 

Those who knew him well might see more than a little of his own approach to life in those words.

“Dusty was larger than life,” said Robin Holmes, Vice President for Student Affairs. “He brought his enthusiasm to every project he worked on – and he was never afraid to make the hard decisions.  He will be greatly missed in our community.”

His family has requested that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Adell McMillan Endowment. The Adell McMillan Endowment for the Erb Memorial Union Permanent Art Collection supports purchases and maintenance of art works for the Erb Memorial Union's collection of Pacific Northwest art. Works of art for purchase are selected by a faculty/student committee selected by the EMU Cultural Forum's visual arts coordinator and approved by the EMU director.  

Donations may be sent to:

Adell McMillan Endowment for the Erb Memorial Union
c/o  University of Oregon Foundation
1720 E. 13th Ave., Ste. 410
Eugene, OR  97403