Nathan B. Miron

Nathan B. Miron, Ph.D., passed away peacefully on Feb. 22, 2014, at his home in Kenwood, surrounded by family and very close friends. Nathan was born in Houston, Texas, on May 28, 1927, to Hershel and Hessie Miron, the ninth of 10 children.

Nathan’s education included two master’s degrees, in music and psychology, and a Ph.D. in psychology. He enjoyed a variety of careers, including pilot for a mining company, entertainment director at White Sands Proving Grounds, elementary school teacher, music teacher, teaching fellow at the University of Houston, and instructor at Texas Southern University, University of Houston, College of Marin, Sonoma State University and John F. Kennedy University.

Nathan was a pioneer in the operant conditioning/behavior modification movement, having done extensive research in this area and earning a listing in “Who’s Who in American Men and Women of Science.”

He worked as senior psychologist at Sonoma Developmental Center, where he specialized in behavior modification with self-injurious patients. He wrote numerous articles for various professional publications, and authored two books, “Winning the Games People Play,” and the forthcoming, “The Virtuoso.”

Nathan had a vast range of interests and hobbies. He taught himself to play the piano at a young age, which became an enduring passion throughout his life. At the age of 15, he developed a strong interest in astronomy, which also became a lifelong passion, leading to his becoming the first president of the Houston Astronomical Society, and later a founding member of Ferguson Observatory at Sugarloaf Ridge State Park in Kenwood. Along with music and astronomy, Nathan’s interests included photography and writing (fiction and non-fiction). He was pilot, having owned his own plane, an avid outdoorsman as a skier, mountain climber, and hiker (hiked 80 miles in the Grand Canyon), an amateur geologist and world traveler.

Nathan was a regular contributor to the Kenwood Press, with his recurring article titled, “Star Spangled Banter,” which may still be viewed atstarspangledbanter.com. Nathan was an active member of the Kenwood community, having served 30 years on the board of directors of the Kenwood Community Club, and 17 years on the board of the Kenwood School Association. He was a docent at Jack London State Park in Glen Ellen, and Ferguson Observatory in Kenwood. Nathan will most likely be remembered for his unlimited sense of humor, lightening the lives of all those around him.

Above all, Nathan will be remembered as a generous and loving husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle and dear friend. Nathan is survived by Susan, his wife of 42 years; his children, Rick, Emily and Julia; his grandchildren, Ryan, Amanda, Roma and Haven; his two sisters, Ruth and Goldie; numerous nieces and nephews; and a generous community of beloved friends, especially his dear friends, Bill and Edie Cacciatore, who were by his side until the end.

There will be a celebration of Nathan’s life at the Kenwood Depot on Saturday, March 22, at 1 p.m.

An endowment fund for a music scholarship in Nathan’s memory has been established at Santa Rosa Junior College. Donations may be made to the SRJC Nathan B. Miron Memorial Music Scholarship, and addressed to: Santa Rosa Junior College Foundation, 1501 Mendocino Ave., Santa Rosa, Ca., 95401.