Palm Harbor, September 17, 2025
News Summary
The community of Palm Harbor mourns the loss of two avid golfers, John R. McGrath and Maurice J. Miller. Both men are remembered for their love of the sport, family values, and dedication to life. McGrath, an experienced union worker, and Miller, a former Caterpillar employee and Army veteran, left behind cherished families and a legacy of hard work and community involvement. Their memorials reflect the impact they had as both golfers and community members, inspiring others to honor their lives through practical gestures and memories shared on the course.
Palm Harbor, Florida — Two Local Golf Lovers Tee Off to the Great Fairway in the Sky
Palm Harbor lost two familiar faces this year, men who knew how to read a green and how to roll with life’s rough patches. Both left behind families, memories and a love of the simple things — a tidy golf swing, a camper packed for a weekend, and the satisfaction of a job well done.
John R. McGrath, 82 — A Hands-On Man Who Loved the Course and Family
John R. McGrath passed away peacefully on September 14, 2025, one day shy of his 83rd birthday. Born in Lowell, Massachusetts on September 15, 1942, he was one of fourteen children — a big family that taught him how to compete, cooperate and care. John spent most of his working life as a proud member of Laborers Union Local 429, building houses and keeping things running smoothly around the home. Those who knew him say he brought the same steady, patient approach to life that golfers bring to their pre-shot routine.
He married his wife Mary and they were together for 64 years — a long partnership that looks a lot like a steady game: focus, patience, and a willingness to play the course you’re dealt. John loved playing golf, camping and traveling with family, and he took pride in hands-on work around the house. Those tools-on-the-belt days translated into satisfaction on the greens, where small adjustments and steady focus win the day.
John is survived by children John R. McGrath Jr., Bonnie A. Sheehan (Michael), Barbara M. Opre (Michael) and Russel P. McGrath (Sharon). He was a cherished Papa to grandchildren Johnnie (Megan), Mellissa (Dana), Michael (Roy), Tanya, Shane, Cora and Dylan, and a proud great-grandfather to Olivia, Declan and Paige. He is also survived by siblings Ruth Santos and Walter McGrath along with many nieces, nephews and extended family. John is remembered for a hardworking spirit and the kind of steady presence golfers admire on and off the course.
Maurice J. Miller, 90 — From Dwight to Palm Harbor, a Life That Kept Moving
Maurice J. Miller died peacefully on June 3, 2025. Born July 14, 1934, in Dwight, Illinois, Maurice took an American-style path that mixed work, service and a healthy dose of motion — the kind of life that would make any walking-loving golfer nod in approval.
After graduating from Dwight High School, Maurice worked at Caterpillar in the early 1950s before joining the Army from 1953 to 1955. Stationed in Richardson, Alaska, he served as a traffic analyst and earned the National Defense Service Medal. He stayed involved with the Army Reserves for five more years and later returned to Caterpillar, where he rose from production clerk to the computer programming department during a 32-year career. His work helped develop early warehouse robotics — forward thinking that paired well with a love for steady strides and forward movement.
Maurice married June on June 22, 1957, after a blind date set up by his sister. He gave back to his hometown through local involvement and an eight-year term on the Dwight elementary school board. After heart surgery in 1980 he adopted a daily walking routine of three miles — a discipline many golfers recognize as conditioning for long rounds and long lives. He retired in 1990 and traveled extensively with June, weathered the 1994 Woodland, CA earthquake while traveling, and later chose winters in Tucson and eventually moved to Palm Harbor in 2020 to be close to family during the pandemic.
Maurice is survived by children Stephen Miller, Melanie (Munger) Miller, Julie (Miller) Retzlaff and Curtis Retzlaff, plus grandchildren and great-grandchildren including Chelsey, Kyle, Kayla (DiDonna), Cameron and Ryan. He was preceded in death by his parents, Robert and Florence Miller, and siblings Francis, John, and Jane (Miller) Donnelly.
A memorial service for Maurice is scheduled for Saturday, July 12, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. at Sylvan Abbey Funeral Home in Palm Harbor. In lieu of flowers, donations are requested to St. Patrick’s Church in Dwight, IL in Maurice Miller’s name.
From the Clubhouse: What These Men Taught Us About the Game of Life
As a golf writer, it’s striking how many parallels exist between life on the course and the lives John and Maurice lived. John’s hands-on building work and steady union career resemble the painstaking craft of reading a green. Maurice’s daily three-mile walks after surgery mirror the physical and mental discipline golfers depend on to make it through 18 holes. Both men valued family, hard work and simple joys — the same values that make a clubhouse feel like home.
These were men who knew how to keep their heads down, grind through the rough, celebrate the good shots and get ready for the next hole. For anyone who has ever walked a fairway at dawn, carried a bag across a chilly front nine, or shared a post-round burger with family, their stories will land close to home.
How to Remember Them
If you’re a golfer looking to honor these neighbors, simple gestures resonate: a moment of silence at the first tee, a donation in Maurice’s name to St. Patrick’s Church in Dwight, or a family gathering that includes tales of rounds played and courses conquered. These small acts reflect the modest, hands-on lives they led — practical, meaningful and true to form.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: When did John R. McGrath pass away?
A: John R. McGrath passed away on September 14, 2025.
Q: What were Maurice Miller’s service arrangements?
A: Maurice’s memorial service is scheduled for Saturday, July 12, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. at Sylvan Abbey Funeral Home in Palm Harbor, FL.
Q: Are donations requested?
A: For Maurice Miller, donations to St. Patrick’s Church in Dwight, IL are requested in lieu of flowers. No donation requests were listed for John McGrath.
Q: How can golfers and community members pay tribute?
A: Thoughtful tributes include moments of silence at local courses, charitable donations where requested, sharing memories with family, or hosting a small gathering of friends to celebrate their lives.
Q: Where did both men live?
A: Both John and Maurice lived in Palm Harbor, Florida. Maurice was formerly from Dwight, Illinois.
Quick Reference Table
| Name | Age | Date of Death | Birthplace | Service/Donation Info | Survived By |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| John R. McGrath | 82 | September 14, 2025 | Lowell, Massachusetts | No public service listed | Wife Mary; children John Jr., Bonnie, Barbara, Russel; grandchildren and great-grandchildren |
| Maurice J. Miller | 90 | June 3, 2025 | Dwight, Illinois | Memorial: July 12, 2025, 11:00 AM — Sylvan Abbey Funeral Home; donations to St. Patrick’s Church in Dwight, IL | Children Stephen, Melanie, Julie, Curtis; grandchildren and great-grandchildren |
In the clubhouse of life, these two men will be remembered for steady hands, a love of the walk, and the warmth of family — the kind of legacy every golfer understands.
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Additional Resources
- Tribute Archive: Marilyn L. Purdy
- Legacy: Barbara Jones Obituary
- Dignity Memorial: Maurice Miller
- Legacy: Terry Nolan Obituary
- Legacy: Margaret Sharits Obituary
- Wikipedia: Golf
- Google Search: Golf Course Life
- Google Scholar: Golf and Life Lessons
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Golf
- Google News: Golf Community Tributes
Author: STAFF HERE BOSTON WRITER
BOSTON STAFF WRITER The BOSTON STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREBoston.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Boston, Suffolk County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Boston Marathon, Head of the Charles Regatta, and Boston Harborfest. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce and Associated Industries of Massachusetts, plus leading businesses in finance, biotech, and insurance that power the local economy such as Fidelity Investments, Biogen, and Liberty Mutual Insurance. As part of the broader HERE network, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Massachusetts's dynamic landscape.
