Miller Bugliari Memory Book - Page 17

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My name is Ray Robinson.  I attended Pingry from 1955 - 1967.  Heck, I even remember when you and Herb Bush were students.  I  was on Miller's varsity soccer team in 66' & 67'.   We gave you a tie at the end of the 67' season because we had so many tie games... great defense.
     Hi Miller!  Congratulations. 
     Coach, you've always been a class act.  Living here in Seattle always makes it difficult to attend the alumni games but I always remember fondly the excellence that you demanded of us on and off the field.  Such a work ethic has been critical to my own successes and I can only hope that I have been able to instill the same spirit in my own orthopaedic resident teaching responsibilities here at the University of Washington. 
     My best memories of you are actually in your biology class.  Your sense of humor was infectious.  It made learning fun. 
Best regards and thank you.
Ray Robinson ‘67

Some of my most special moments with Miller include the Ecology Class field trip to the sewage treatment facility followed by a beautiful afternoon at the beach and the day he found me at Princeton after I had been up for three nights finishing my senior thesis.   But it is always a pleasure to be with Miller.  

Congratulations Miller.  Genesia Perlmutter Kamen '79

This is from Richard F. Engel, class of 70.  I played soccer for Miller, indirectly as a member of the freshman and junior varsity teams, and, my senior year, as a member of the varsity.  Since having my own children I have coached over 50 teams, some at a high level of all-stars or travel.  I have witnessed many coaches at the high school level as my children have played high school sports.  I must say that I have come to appreciate more and more the uniqueness of Miller as a coach.  Of course, we all remember how tough he was.  After all, he fined us a quarter if we dared to ever pick up a soccer ball instead of using our feet, even when we went between the locker room and the field.  I also distinctly remember running numerous laps after a win because he did not feel we played hard enough.  But in all he did he never, ever was seen as mean, vindictive or at all threatening to a player or anyone else.  He produced much out of little many times, and there are things he taught me as a player that I still do not see more "modern" coaches teach.  Every coach should take lessons from him on how to do the job correctly.

Miller Bugliari played a very important role in my life in 1976 as a senior goalie on the varsity soccer team.  The following anecdote sums up our relationship perfectly:

We were leading our arch-rival (and host) Lawrenceville 1-0 in the waning moments of the state prep school tourney finals when one of their attackers was fouled.  To this day I swear I heard a whistle blow, but the Lawrenceville player continued to play and shot the ball past me.  I protested to no avail.  We went on to lose the game in overtime, 2-1.  On the long trip home, Coach came up to me with a half-smile and said "One day you are going to pick up the phone and hear a long whistle...that will be me on the other end."  My first instinct was to sink further into depression, but my second more mature and lasting impression was more philosophical.  By injecting humor at a very sensitive moment, Mr. Bugliari (I can't help but still refer to him by his formal name) taught me that it is still just a game and to gain perspective through laughter is a life lesson learned well.  It wasn't complete absolution -- He was also telling me that I should have played through, despite hearing the whistle until it was really clear play had stopped -- but his words helped me get through that night and the next few days.

And I remember the conversation as if it were yesterday.  That is the magnetic pull of Miller Bugliari.

Submitted by,

Chris Meyer '77