Pamela Shaw-Miller

An amazingly gifted and creative artist-designer has left this earth after inspiring all with her wisdom, courage and love.

Pamela Shaw-Miller died Dec. 11, 2014. She was 53.

A resident of South Lake Tahoe and formerly of Glendale, her family and many friends will miss her greatly. She died at home after being diagnosed with lung cancer, not associated with smoking, in August.

Beautiful Pam was inquisitive from childhood, with a creative and artistic mind and above-average intellect. She was born Pamela Louise Shaw at Glendale Memorial Hospital on April 12, 1961, to Jim and Lili Shaw.

After two months they moved from Highland Park and lived in Glassell Park where she attended Toland Way Elementary School from age 4. She bypassed a grade upon moving to Glendale in 1972 where she attended Wilson Jr. High, and graduated from Glendale High in 1977 at barely age 16.

During this time Pam became an accomplished classical pianist and always loved music and dance. The Beatles were a favorite group; she could sing all the lyrics and had a beautiful singing voice.

An early lover of old movies, her favorite entertainer was Fred Astaire, whom she later met. As a mature youngster she enjoyed many fantastic world-class rock concerts, and visits to Las Vegas where she would see and meet many entertainers through then celebrity-friend Connie Stevens.

Pam briefly relocated with friends to Colorado following school, but subsequently returned to Los Angeles. After working a variety of jobs and considering a career in sound engineering/recording, she married Howard Phillippe. Together they ran a commercial painting business for several years, until Pam took a career change to manage several retail stores (in Glendale, Beverly Hills, Oxnard, and Bay area) and later dissolved the marriage.

Pam met husband Alan at a party in Hollywood. They married in 1987, moved from the big city to Humboldt County, and obtained their degrees from Humboldt State University in 1992; both with top honors.

This North Coast area further nurtured Pam’s life-long love of the ocean. Many new friends were made during this period and Pam’s artistic talents were developed, producing many novel and unique art works (drawings, paintings, sculptures), leather masks, and fabric creations. Later Pam would use her artistic and business talents in support of her various entrepreneurial and community activities.

Following university and a move to South Lake Tahoe, Pam became self-employed in interior decorating and art-related businesses. She also became very interested in gardening and this continued to the end of her life.

Pam was politically active and environmentally conscious, and spent many days hiking with friends in the Sierra high country, taking nature walks by Lake Tahoe, and developing photography skills.

She belonged to the local chapter of the National League of American Pen Women. She conducted volunteer fundraising for the local Humane Society and loved animals of all types, especially her two cats, Buddy and Lloyd. Pam held no religious beliefs, but served for many years as treasurer for the Lake Tahoe Unitarian Universalist fellowship until it disbanded.

Pam’s substantial group of close friends attests to her giving nature and kind heart. Pam’s passing is truly a great loss to us all; she was often the social glue and instigator. She believed in keeping old friends and collecting new ones. Pam loved to laugh and entertain friends, celebrate special events, and make people feel special. She loved quality things, good food and drink, great music, beautiful surroundings, and people. If she were here, she would say, “That thing you’ve been putting off … just do it!”

Dad James Shaw preceded her in death.

Pam is survived by her husband Alan Miller, mom Lillian Shaw, and sister Carla Shaw.

There will be a celebration of life in Glendale on Jan. 3. Call 818.244.0093 for details. There will be a celebration of life in South Lake Tahoe on Jan. 18. Call 530.542.0243 for details.

Donations to your local humane society or the Caring Bridge website are suggested in lieu of flowers.