Tom, Susan and Austin Miller of ALF’s Cape Cod Chapter were honored with Len Hadley Volunteer Awards during the American Lighthouse Foundation’s annual Gala, which was held at the Nonantum Resort in Kennebunkport, Maine, on November 5, 2023.
Tom, Susan, and Austin Miller
(L to R) ALF 1st Vice-President Nick Korstad, Cape Cod Chapter chairperson Gary Childs, ALF Treasurer Alan Ells, Tom Miller and Susan Miller.
Tom and Susan – as well as their son Austin, were honored with ALF Len Hadley Volunteer Awards for their work at Race Point Lighthouse.
(Photo by Dominic Trapani)
Tom and Susan Miller have been long term “Keepers” at Race Point Lighthouse. Tom and Susan are “plank owners,” who started with Jim Walker in 1998 as the first set of “Keepers.” They remember the fog horn sounding 24/7/365 from the lighthouse. Austin Miller was “raised” at Race Point Light—coming several times each year, and is now a full “Keeper” for five-plus years.
The Miller family goes back to the early jeeps (shake the gas tank to see if there is enough to get out there), pay for the gasoline, use the gas lanterns in the house (no electricity), no hot water, and gas refrigerators. They have always stepped up when something extra needed to be done with an admirable esprit de corps for furthering the mission statement of the Cape Cod Chapter. This family works well with all the guests at the keeper’s house and the whistle house.
(L to R) Cape Cod Chapter volunteers Austin, Tom and Susan Miller.
(Cape Cod Chapter photo)
Some guests need a bit more help to feel comfortable and have benefited from the gentle touch by Tom, Susan and Austin. In the post COVID setting, they have always stepped up after a seven-hour drive from Pennsylvania to lay down new boardwalks, help with the flagpole restoration, plumbing, carpentry, and upkeep of the structures. We never worry when they are keeping at the lighthouse.
Everything flows like clockwork—and if it doesn’t, they simply adjust and overcome, all in the spirit of the place. Every time they leave this jewel at the end of the Cape, they leave it better than when they arrived. Their solid work and laughter, and generous giving fill the air out there and all benefit. We are fortunate to have them as part of Cape Cod Chapter at Race Point Lighthouse.
We are pleased to honor Tom, Susan, and Austin Miller with 2023 Len Hadley Volunteer Awards!
Race Point Lighthouse, Provincetown, Massachusetts. ALF’s Cape Cod Chapter cares for the lighthouse, keeper’s house, whistle house and oil house at the historic site. The chapter also cares for Wood End and Long Point lights on Cape Cod. (Race Point Lighthouse photo)
