Norman C. Miller, a former editor of the Los Angeles Times and Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist known for his dedication to objective reporting, passed away at the age of 90.
According to her son Scott, Miller passed away on March 29th at his Pasadena home after battling chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and congestive heart failure.
A devout Catholic, Miller is survived by his children, Charlie, Mary Ellen Wasson, Scott, eight grandchildren and one great grandchild. His wife, Molly and daughter Teresa, passed away several years ago.
Miller was born in Pittsburgh on October 2, 1934. He attended Central Catholic High School and the University of Pennsylvania, earning a bachelor’s degree in journalism. Miller was inducted into the Hall of Fame both in high school and college.
After graduating from university, Miller joined the Navy, where he served for four years before becoming an officer.
While working for the Wall Street Journal in 1964, Miller won the Pulitzer Prize for reporting on the financial fraud scandal of merchandise trader Tino de Angelis. His report on the scandal served as the foundation for the 1965 book, The Great Salad Oil Swindle.
After working for the Wall Street Journal for 20 years, Miller moved to Pasadena and became the National Editor of the Times. He retired from the Times 14 years later and became an adjunct professor at USC.
Members of the Times Newsroom during his tenure remember Miller for his dullness as an editor. Doyle McManus, a member of the national staff at the time, recalls Miller being a tough but fair boss.
“He was absolutely radical about sticking to the highest standards of objective reporting,” McManus said. “If you were investigating something and suggesting that the person was engaged in cheating, whether it was a executive or a politician, then you had to nail those facts.”
According to McManus, staff joked that the radical approach to editing was the result of Miller’s era in the Navy.
Roger Smith, the associate editor of the Times during Miller’s tenure, remembers him as an editor dedicated to bringing objective facts of every story he produced in his time.
“[Miller] Smith said. “You always knew where you stood with him. He was dedicated to creating stories that produced as many straight shooting operations as we did as himself.”
Under Miller’s leadership, his colleagues remember that they produced rigorous investigation reports of all the presidents they covered.
“[Miller] He was a vigilant guardian of traditional journalistic standards, and that was a good thing,” McManus said.
Miller was a competitive opponent on the tennis court and played until he was 86.
Miller saw his wife faithfully during his 12-year battle with Alzheimer’s disease.
“My dad cared for her every day throughout those 12 years of fighting,” Scott said. “It was amazing to observe his love, compassion and kindness and chase his wife.”
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