'Ramblin' Richard Miller remembered

Ayla Kardestuncer holds two of Richard's custom-made harmonicas. Photos by Brenda Sullivan.

Free copies of a CD-compilation of songs Richard played on WHUS are being offered, and UConn is being asked to play one of his songs before a game.

The pouch holding the remains of Richard Miller's body, about the size of a tobacco pouch, was placed in a grave not much bigger than a shoebox in Storrs Cemetery on Sept. 3, with a small circle of friends and acquaintances to bid him farewell.

"Ramblin' Rich" Miller's grave may be small, but his circle of influence was beyond measure.

During the funeral mass held at St. Thomas Aquinas Church, to which Richard was deeply attached and devoted, he was remembered as "one of the little ones," among the innocents.

Spending his formative years in foster homes and later left in the now-defunct Mansfield Training School - although he was not mentally disabled - probably had a lot to do with Richard's unique and oft-misunderstood way of relating to people.

Richard was very frank, held little back, and once he had an idea, held onto it like a bulldog with a choice ham bone.

And there is something to be learned from these parts of Richard's character, Father Paul Sullivan told the group of about 70 who attended the mass. [A large number of friends, fellow parishioners and acquaintances previously attended a Memorial Mass held on Aug. 18.]

Richard, died on Aug. 9 and had no known relatives.

Richard was like many people in this world who feel an intense need for love and attention, Father Paul said.

"We all need to feel included... we all have parts that are broken or disconnected," he said.

However, while most people learn to hide these parts of themselves, Richard put his needs right out on the table.

And this is as God intended, Father Paul said. "Know what you need, know what's essential to your life and go get it - and God will help you," he said.

Delayed maybe - but not denied

Richard's persistence was the topic of several remembrances.

"He would not be denied. Delayed, maybe - but not denied," said Father Paul, who recalled when Richard approached him with the idea of creating a banner for the church, depicting hands breaking bread.

Father Paul told Richard he couldn't make that decision on his own, and would have to consult the church committee when it met in three weeks. Every Sunday after that, Richard was back to remind Father Paul of his request. "He was very eager that this thing should happen." And it did.

Father Paul cited the Biblical passage in which Jesus says, "If you are looking for me, look for the little ones," and added that Richard was one of these "little ones."

"And a test of our health is how well we receive and welcome such little ones," he said. "Do we allow them to not be denied... God does not want us to be neutral."

In acknowledgment of Richard's gifts as a musician, one of the hymns sung at the mass was, "How Can I Keep From Singing."

There was magic in this man's harmonica

His talent with a harmonica was also remembered in the eulogy delivered by John Murphy who, as general manager of the University of Connecticut's radio station WHUS, helped get Richard's music on the air.

"He came to the radio station around Thanksgiving with the idea of sharing a song about Christmas. One look at his face showed me the answer," Murphy said.

And again, he recalled Richard's persistence - when he returned and asked to play in honor of Easter, St. Patrick's Day, the Fourth of July, and so on.

"Ramblin Rich," as he was more widely known, touched many lives through his music - playing at the children's hospital, at dances, at the local grocery stores during holidays, and anywhere he was welcomed.

"There was magic in this man's harmonica... and his face when he played those songs wore a divine expression," Murphy said.

To honor Richard, Murphy has compiled archives of all of his songs played at WHUS on a single CD, "so you can share him and keep him alive in this world," he said. Murphy will provide a free copy to anyone who makes a request through St. Thomas Aquinas Church.

Murphy also shared that he will ask the university to play a song from the archives before one of the UConn games - something Richard always wanted to do, but was never allowed.

The mass closed with a final song, "On Eagle's Wings," before a small group continued to the Storrs Cemetery, where two sisters donated one of their family plots for Richard's final resting place.

This was followed by a reception back at the church center, where friends had placed many of Richard's belongings to be taken as mementos, including his harmonicas, drawings, hundreds of Polaroid photographs Richard took at various functions, and CD copies of his music. And there are plans to create a cross from some of his harmonicas to mark his burial place.

Friends shared stories about Richard at a reception at the Aquinas Center.

Burying Richard Miller's ashes

Burying Richard Miller's ashes

Among the photos offered at the reception is this one (left) of the normally rail-thin Richard plumped out in a Santa suit.

1 of 4