Maryellen Miller, activist against breast cancer

MARYELLEN MILLER

Maryellen A. (Marcoux) Miller, a breast-cancer activist, died of the disease March 18 at her Holliston home. She was 45.

Five years ago, Mrs. Miller helped organize the first annual Walk Against Breast Cancer in Holliston. The walk raised more than $200,000 for research and patient care at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

Jayne Jones, one of the other organizers, said the walk promotes awareness of the disease and a sense of community, in addition to raising money. In the first year, they had barely 100 participants; this year, more than 500 participated.

Jones said Mrs. Miller was an unsung hero. "She was very involved and did many things on her own for the walk without wanting a lot of attention," she said.

For example, for the first two walks, breast-cancer survivors wore a differently colored T-shirt than that worn by other participants. On the third walk, Mrs. Miller suggested that all walkers wear the same shirt so as not to single out the survivors.

"She was a strong, solid person with a commitment to the mission of finding a cure and a commitment to others," Jones said.

She said that when someone else received a diagnosis, Mrs. Miller would offer such helpful hints as where to get a great scarf.

She was active in cycling, golfing, karate, and running. She participated in local road races and worked her way up to the Walt Disney World Marathon.

Mrs. Miller was born in Providence and grew up in Cumberland, R.I. She graduated from Wheaton College in 1984 with a degree in economics and math and went on to work as an employee-benefits consultant for Towers Perrin and Sun Life of Canada.

She loved the ocean, especially beaches in Newport and on Cape Cod, and enjoyed scrapbooking and photography.

"She was a very, very good mom," said her husband, Mark. "The kids loved her. She was very involved with their lives."

Despite all she went through, Mrs. Miller was not a complainer, Jones said. "She still had a positive spirit. All of us felt honored to have her part of the committee and to be a part of our community."

Each of the organizers of the Holliston walk were pall bearers at Mrs. Miller's funeral.

In addition to her husband, she leaves two sons, Dan and Chris; two daughters, Tracey and Allison; her parents, David and Rita Marcoux of Cumberland, R.I.; and a sister, Maryann Marcoux of Westborough.

Services have been held.