Author Topic: Utah Jazz owner Larry Miller passes away (Read 87 times)

Halu Sination · « **on:** February 22, 2009, 12:40:39 AM »

http://deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,705286422,00.html

Larry H. Miller — car dealer, Utah Jazz owner, philanthropist, entrepreneur, Utah icon — died Friday at his Salt Lake mansion at the age of 64 after a long battle with various health problems. Miller's health declined steeply after he suffered a heart attack in June 2008. That was followed by kidney failure, gastrointestinal bleeding and other problems associated with gout and type 2 diabetes. It took surgery, eight pints of blood, two liters of fluid and 59 days in the hospital to save his life. He was hospitalized three more times during the next seven months. He was considered clinically dead on five different occasions during that time, once as recently as December, but was resuscitated.

Each time Miller worked valiantly to regain his strength and mobility, undergoing rigorous physical therapy, but there was always a setback.

His feet riddled with infection and diabetic ulcers, Miller had both legs amputated 6 inches below the knee on Jan. 23.

Miller knew he was in a desperate battle for his life. The night before he was to undergo the amputation, he was asked about the prognosis. "They don't know," he said.

Miller's downhill slide continued.

On Feb. 12, doctors gave Miller more bad news: He had contracted calciphylaxis, a rare disease that strikes a small percentage of those suffering renal failure or undergoing dialysis. The disease calcifies blood vessels, blocking the flow of oxygen. There is no cure.

With continued dialysis, calciphylaxis patients can survive several months. But after weighing his options for a couple of days, Miller told his wife, Gail, and his family that he would not undergo dialysis. "He didn't want to live like that," Gail Miller said. "His only concern was me. He didn't want to leave me alone."

Miller is survived by Gail, his high school sweetheart whom he married 48 years ago, and their five children — Greg, Roger, Steve, Karen and Bryan, as well as 21 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

During one wistful moment while recovering from his heart attack, Miller said, "You know, I don't want this to sound boastful, but I really have had an extraordinary life."

Damn, the leg amputations only prolonged his life for an extra month. I heard the Jazz vs Hornets game in Utah was really emotional today. Rest in peace.

Hey Ma · « **Reply #1 on:** February 22, 2009, 01:12:51 AM »

he was crooked as a barrel of snakes.

Lunatic · « **Reply #2 on:** February 22, 2009, 07:47:10 AM »

RIP to em. This is such a great franchise. Sloan, Malone, Stockton, Pistol Pete, etc.

Halu Sination · « **Reply #3 on:** February 22, 2009, 11:30:28 PM »

Quote from: The Ungoogleable on February 22, 2009, 01:12:51 AM

he was crooked as a barrel of snakes.

The Carlos Boozer shit was shady as shit but I didn't know if he had a history of being crooked. All I know is he released D-Fish's contract in what I considered to be a classy move.