For Dr. Dane and Mary Louise Miller, generosity was a way of life. Inspired by the example of their parents, they believed deeply in sharing what they had, strengthening their community, and creating opportunities for others. With nearly five decades of marriage, that shared commitment shaped their family, their philanthropy, and their relationship with St. Anne’s Episcopal Church.
Dane and Mary Louise were high school sweethearts at Shawnee High School near Springfield, Ohio. When Dane graduated, he attended General Motors Institute. His program had 6 week breaks and he spent his “off” time working at an appliance factory closer to home. He saved $2 of every paycheck so he could pay for Mary Louise’s engagement ring. They lived modestly and made intentional sacrifices early on in their marriage while Dane attended college and worked two jobs, Mary Louise stayed home to care for their two girls, Kimberly and Stephany.
Dane brought an engineer’s curiosity and an entrepreneur’s vision to his work. After earning his PhD in materials science-biomedical engineering, he took a leap of faith and along with several supportive investors became a co-founder of Biomet, Inc. where he served as its President and CEO until his retirement in 2006. He took pride in cultivating a positive work culture where employees had autonomy, but also an expectation to care for others around them. His professional accomplishments earned national recognition, and Dane invested his leadership beyond his company, serving on the boards of numerous prominent institutions.
Mary Louise liked to tease that she had a PhD in Dane and also shared Dane’s commitment to serve others through volunteering and leading numerous nonprofit organizations, but expressed it in a way distinctly her own. For Mary Louise, hospitality was another form of service. She lived with grace and generosity and was known as a natural encourager and consummate hostess. No matter the menu, she had a gift for making those gathered around her table feel welcome and that spirit extended throughout her community life.
As President of the Dr. Dane & Mary Louise Miller Foundation, she championed education, women’s health, children, and community development all while encouraging countless people to pursue their own ideas, dreams, and passions.
Together, Dane and Mary Louise established their foundation to make their generosity enduring. As members of St. Anne’s Episcopal Church, Dane and Mary Louise valued their church experience and faithfully supported its mission, facilities, and service to the wider community. St. Anne’s remained meaningful throughout their lives. They used what they had been given to create opportunities for others.
The Dr. Dane and Mary Louise Miller Foundation Fund for St. Anne’s Episcopal Church carries that relationship forward. The fund provides lasting support for a church community that mattered to them and reflects the values that guided their lives together. Through this fund, their legacy of generosity and service will continue at St. Anne’s for generations to come.
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