A public announcement has been made on the demise of Paul Miles, who passed away on Sunday, March 17, 2024, at the age of 79. Since we are in the process of communicating this information to you, we are going through a tremendous deal of emotional turmoil. Love, kindness, and a deep commitment to his family and the community in which he lived were the defining characteristics of Paul’s life.
He lived his life with a strong dedication to both. These are the characteristics that served to differentiate Paul’s life. Throughout his life, the characteristics that he possessed served as a defining attribute. Even though his physical presence will be deeply missed by those who were fortunate enough to enjoy his company, the memory of him will live on in the hearts of all those individuals who had the privilege of knowing and loving him. His legacy will live on in their hearts forever.
The unwavering commitment that he showed toward his roles as a spouse, father, grandfather, and friend was something that was truly valued by each and every person who had the opportunity to go through the process of getting to know him. The amount of his passion for his family was limitless, and his unwavering commitment to them shined through in all he did regardless of the circumstances. The intensity of his passion continued to be evident. When it came to his life, his family was the most essential thing.
Doctor Max D. Miles and Margaret (Bailey) Miles, both of whom were medical missionaries, welcomed their son Paul into the world on March 29, 1928 in Kengtung, Burma. He was born and raised in Scituate, and he received his education there. After receiving his degree in electrical engineering from Clarkson College of Technology, he continued his education at Boston College, where he majored in earth science and earned a degree in geophysics with a concentration in seismology when he graduated. In the beginning, he joined the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) in a civilian position at Cole Laboratory, which was located in Fort Monmouth, New Jersey.
After moving back to New England with his family in 1956, he worked for a number of different companies, including Nortonics and Melpar, before settling down with the Cambridge business of Bolt, Beranek and Newman, where he remained for a period of around thirty years. While working at BBN, he was associated with underwater sound for the United States Navy. He went on numerous research excursions aboard ships in the Atlantic, Pacific, and Arctic oceans, and he even spent some time aboard a nuclear submarine to do his research. His collaboration with the University of Hawaii and the University of Washington on the investigation of sound sources and the influence those sources have on the behaviors of specific whale species was one of the most fascinating projects he had ever been given.
Immediately following his retirement in 1991, Paul engaged in consultancy work for a brief period of time. Subsequently, he got actively involved in the Scituate Historical Society, serving as the Vice President of Preservation. As part of his responsibilities in this role, he managed the reconstruction and restoration of a number of the town’s historic sites, the Scituate Lighthouse and the Lawson Tower being among the most notable examples. An award for “Scituate Citizens of the Year” was bestowed upon him and his wife Carol in the year 2004.
Currently, he was engaged in the process of restoring the ancient Grist Mill that was built in 1650 and is located on Country Way. Along with singing in the church choir, climbing in the mountains, playing golf, taking photographs, and maintaining the house and yard in beautiful condition were all activities that Paul enjoyed doing. His wife of 56 years, Carol (Robison) Miles, his daughters Deborah and her husband Steve Prentice of Norwell, Amy and her husband Rod MacDonald of East Hampton, Connecticut, and his daughter-in-law Judy (Kramar) Miles of Juneau, Alaska, are among those he leaves behind.
Among his grandchildren, Ian and Nate MacDonald, Skye Prentice, and Kim and Andy Miles, he was the proud grandfather of all three. Along with his sister Jo and her husband Howard Schuman, he is also survived by his sister-in-law Betty Miles and a large number of nieces and nephews. In addition to Paul, his son Mark “Duff” Miles, who resided in Juneau, Alaska, and his brother Matt Miles, who resided in New York, passed away before him.
Private services will be held for the burial. On the first Saturday in November, at 2:00 o’clock, there will be a Memorial Service held at the First Baptist Church in Scituate. Instead of sending flowers, memorial contributions can be made in his name to the Scituate Historical Society, the Scituate First Baptist Church, or any other charity of your choosing.
