Miles

Miles McNiff IIIMiles Francis McNiff III, 74, of Chattanooga, died on Friday, June 21, 2013 at his home in East Brainerd. Mr. McNiff was born Sept. 15, 1939, in Waterbury, Conn., the son of the late Miles Francis McNiff, Jr. and Grace Maude Nicoll. His first wife, Jean Stanton, his second wife, Vicki Rene Privett, and his son, Mark Stanton McNiff, also preceded him in death.Mr. McNiff graduated from The Taft School in Watertown, Conn., Yale University in New Haven, Conn., and Trinity College in Hartford, Conn.In a long and distinguished career at The McCallie School that spanned 44 years, Mr. McNiff served, among other duties, as English teacher, coach, dorm advisor, Class Dean, Director of Student Publications, Director of Publicity and Publications, English Department Chairman, and Academic Dean for 17 years. He also enjoyed leading students on a variety of outdoor trips, ranging from caving to sailing. He lived on campus during all of his years at McCallie and both of his sons graduated from the school.The recipient of numerous awards and recognitions during his career, he served as a past chairman of the Mid-South Association of Academic Deans and was named a Kettering Foundation Fellow. He also received many McCallie honors, including the Dean James Teacher Of English Award, the Houston Patterson Award, and the Keo-Kio Lifetime Achievement Award.As a teacher, Mr. McNiff cherished both the proper use of grammar and the study of the established classics of literature, whose memorable lines he could recite at will. He was a voracious reader, who shared books with students and faculty freely and a skilled cook, whose "smashburgers" fed many dorm students lucky enough to have him as their advisor.In retirement, Mr. McNiff took an active leadership role in his neighborhood association as well as in fellowship with his many friends. He was a lifelong Episcopalian. He is survived by his son, Miles Francis McNiff IV and wife, Ofelija, of Albuquerque, N.M.; step-daughter, Tammy Everett, Chattanooga; step-son, Jason Whiddon, Chattanooga; two grandchildren, Miles Ryan McNiff, Albuquerque, N.M., and Paden McNiff of Mill Valley, Calif.; two brothers, John F. McNiff, Philadelphia, Pa., and David K. McNiff, Ithaca, NY. There will be no visitation or services at the funeral home. A memorial gathering will be held at a later date.Visit www.heritagefh.com to share words of comfort to the family. Memorial contributions may be made to a favorite charity.The family would like to thank Hospice of Chattanooga for their dedication and kindness in caring for Miles.Arrangements are by Heritage Funeral Home, East Brainerd Road.