Jack Wessel Miller's Obituary
Jack Wessel Miller a 40 year career Maryland Pharmacist died peacefully at the age of 82 on March 2nd 2015. He was a 67 year resident of the area of which 40 years were spent in Arnold, Maryland and for the last 7 years lived at The Gardens of Annapolis.
Jack attended Annapolis High School where he played on the school’s first football team and on its first Lacrosse team in 1948. He transferred to Severn School where he played football as the captain, lacrosse, and wrestled as well as serving on the student council.
During the Korean War he served on the USS Bushnell as a 3rd class petty officer. He married his high school sweetheart Jennie Colburn, deceased, at Trinity Methodist Church on West Street in Annapolis in 1952. They were happily married for 54 years.
In 1953 Jack attended George Washington University School of Pharmacy on the GI Bill. While at college he was a member of Phi Sigma Kappa social fraternity and Kappa Psi pharmaceutical fraternity. He graduated as class president and the proud father of a growing family with two young sons born before graduation and one to be born after graduation.
Employed by Peoples Drug Stores, now CVS, he was a store manager and pharmacist of one of their first super stores in New Carrollton, MD. For 10 years he trained pharmacy graduates in practical pharmacy and how to be assistant managers.
In 1969 he returned to Annapolis to open and run Nationwide Pharmacy Center on Forest Drive for 4 years. As an opening promotion for the new store he gave away a month’s supply of any new or refill prescription absolutely free.
He opened a new professional pharmacy in Parkanna Medical Center in the Linthicum area. They specialize in drugs, medical supplies, and durable medical equipment. As a certified ortho-pediatric fitter, he sometimes went to homes or hospitals to do fittings. During the 13 years of owning the business, he was a proctor for the University Of Maryland School Of Pharmacy. It was a one month training area for some 5th year pharmacy students. He sold his successful business to be closer to his home in Arnold.
Some of his memberships included American Pharmaceutical Assoc., Maryland Pharmaceutical Assoc., and Anne Arundel County Pharmaceutical Assoc.
After a short rest he took a job as pharmacy manager of the Safeway store in Arnold. Nine years later he retired at the age of 65.
Over his career he has worked part time or relief work for Park Pharmacy, Broadneck Pharmacy, Westport Pharmacy, South River Pharmacy, Reads, Rite Aid and Giant.
In retirement as a member of the Magothy River Association he ran an oyster nursery in his community for 4 years. The oysters were placed in the Magothy River to help filter and clean the water.
When his wife died he sold his home in Arnold and moved to the nice active senior complex of The Gardens of Annapolis off Bay Ridge Road.
An avid boater he also enjoyed fishing, crabbing, vegetable gardening, landscaping, travel, bridge, poker, and the Washington Redskins.
He is survived by sons Michael and his wife Vivian of Severna Park, MD, Mark and his wife Susan of Centreville, MD, and Matt and wife Kathi of Sterling, VA, a sister Suzanne Whittle of Franklin TN, seven grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife Jennie and one grandchild.
A celebration of his life is planned for Sunday March 22nd at Quiet Waters Park in Annapolis, MD from 2-5 p.m. in the Blue Heron room. The burial will be private. In lieu flowers a donation may be made to the Magothy River Association or the Chesapeake Bay Foundation.
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