Jeff Miller, who was instrumental in the growth of family-owned team dealer Scholastic Sports Sales in Manlius, NY, and served on the NSGA Board of Directors, unexpectedly passed away on December 19, 2024. Miller was 69.
Miller owned Scholastic Sports Sales, which celebrated its 50th anniversary in April 2024 and is in its third generation of family ownership.
Miller was a member of the NSGA Board for two terms from 2015 to 2021, and his son Justin, who is the president of Scholastic Sports Sales, joined the board in June 2024.
“Receiving the news of Jeff’s passing was a terrible shock,” said Matt Carlson, president and CEO of the NSGA. “He was such a wonderful man who was tremendously dedicated to his family, their business, the community, and our industry. He was a tremendous asset to the NSGA Board with his expertise, ideas and sense of humor.
“Jeff’s family has been such a big part of our industry and my heartfelt condolences go out to his wife Wendy, their children Justin, Josh and Matt, and their many friends. He will be greatly missed,” continued Carlson.
Miller’s parents, Harvey and Nancy, started Scholastic Sports Sales in the family’s garage in Cazenovia, NY in 1974. The business grew quickly into one of the country’s most respected team dealers and moved into a 25,000-square-foot space in Manlius, NY, but it remained a family affair with Jeff’s wife Wendy working in accounts payable and their sons Justin, Josh, VP of Sales and Matt, numbering department manager, in significant roles.
Jeff Miller graduated from Cazenovia High School in 1973 and SUNY Cortland in 1979 and played hockey from age 7 through college. He took over as the owner of Scholastic Sports Sales in 1979. He was an avid fly fisherman, bow hunter and turkey hunter, a lifetime member of Trout Unlimited, and he traveled each year to Montana and Wyoming with his wife during their 48-year marriage to fly fish.
Miller was a volunteer in the Big Brothers Big Sisters of America Program and was the Big Brother of the Year in 2015. He also volunteered for the American Red Cross, Syracuse Rescue Mission and American Cancer Society and was a youth sports league coach for his sons.
Jeff Miller is survived by his wife, Wendy; his sons Joshua (Kate Rayburn), Matthew (Amy Hyatt), and Justin; his father, Harvey; his siblings Tom, Karol Toole and Dave; and four grandchildren. Miller’s family will celebrate Jeff’s life with a service in the spring.
Image courtesy NSGA
