Former Brooklyn Assembly Speaker Mel Miller dies at 79

March 13, 2019 The Associated Press

Mel Miller served in the Assembly for 21 years. Photo courtesy of Joni Yoswein

Mel Miller, a former speaker of the New York State Assembly, has died at age 79.

The Brooklyn Democrat died March 8 in Manhattan. His widow Elizabeth Miller told The New York Times that the cause of death was complications from lung cancer.

Miller served in the Assembly for 21 years and was speaker for five years before being expelled in 1991 after he was convicted of defrauding legal clients.

The conviction was overturned on appeal in 1993. Miller worked as a lobbyist for a number of years.

Current Speaker Carl Heastie, a Bronx Democrat, praised Miller’s work to support public education and said he strived to ensure all New Yorkers counted.

He is survived by his wife, two children and four grandchildren.

Services were scheduled for Tuesday in New York City.