Mike Miller sings twice a week at the Hebrew Rehabilitation Center in Boston. At left is his grandson Ben.

Meet My Dad

From: Homelands Productions
Length: 05:17

Reporter Jon Miller celebrates his 83-year-old father, Mike, a retired schoolteacher who shares his zest for life with residents of a Boston nursing home. Read the full description.

Piece Audio

Playing: Meet My Dad
From: Homelands Productions

Mike_at_nursing_home_small A portrait of Mike Miller, an 83-year-old retired middle school teacher from Lexington, Massachusetts, who volunteers twice a week singing old songs at a nursing home in Boston. Miller's early years were full of pain and death, but he says the experience made him love life all the more. Includes scenes of singing and conversation between Mike and his son, independent producer Jon Miller. Suitable for Father's Day or any program that celebrates old people, volunteerism, schoolteachers, or the power of music.

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Piece Description

A portrait of Mike Miller, an 83-year-old retired middle school teacher from Lexington, Massachusetts, who volunteers twice a week singing old songs at a nursing home in Boston. Miller's early years were full of pain and death, but he says the experience made him love life all the more. Includes scenes of singing and conversation between Mike and his son, independent producer Jon Miller. Suitable for Father's Day or any program that celebrates old people, volunteerism, schoolteachers, or the power of music.

Broadcast History

Earlier version aired nationally on Weekend America, Father's Day 2006. This has been updated to reflect ages as of 2010. Ages will be accurate until March 2011.

Transcript

JON (script): Twice a week my Dad leaves his house in the suburbs and drives to a big nursing home in Boston. On his way he picks up a 95-year-old retired industrial flooring contractor named Hal Kaswell. Hal is blind -- my dad wheels him up to a room full of old folks sitting at tables. And for a solid hour, Hal plays the piano and my dad sings.

SONG: I WANT A GIRL starts, Mike singing and clapping...

JON (script): My dad is 83. I knew he was a ham, but I'd never really seen him so.. in his element.

SONG: A real old-fashioned girl.. interacts with woman

JON (tape): I really like watching you go out into the crowd. I mean, you just, you're looking around for people who need to be drawn out, and grabbing them by the hands...

MIKE: You know, I don't claim any skill, but I somehow sense who needs a touch or a look. And who needs to be pepped up a little bit.

SONG: A real old fas...
Read the full transcript

Timing and Cues

In at 0:00: "Twice a week my Dad leaves his house in the suburbs..."

Last cut ends at 4:48: "I'm just doing it, and having a good time at it"

Out at 5:16 after 26 sec of music, then clapping, "Beautiful... from the Fiddler on the Roof" -- best to run to end, but could fade out earlier

Intro and Outro

INTRO:

Up next a tribute to a father by a grateful son. Mike Miller never had a family, growing up an orphan during the Depression. But it didn't dull his love of life. Miller spent decades sharing his exuberance with middle school students in suburban Boston. Now he performs for a more elderly audience. His son, independent producer Jon Miller, sent us this appreciation.

OUTRO:

Jon Miller prepared that portrait of his father, Mike.