Maryen Lorrain Miller, the elegant, soft-spoken mom of Dance Moms star Abby Lee Miller lost her battle with cancer on Saturday, February 8. The sad news was posted on the Abby Lee Dance studio web site, after Abby Lee Miller took to Instagram to announce her mother’s passing.
The tribute on the ALDC web site reads as follows:
Maryen Lorrain Miller, the lady who started it all, was born on August 6, 1927 to Terrance & Marion McKay in Greenfield, PA. She graduated from St. Rosalia’s Catholic School where Martha Davies opened the doors to dance. At 18, she relocated to Florida ~ Swing and sway with Maryen McKay. Miss Maryen owned and operated several successful studios in the Miami Beach area for twenty years. This lovely lady inspired imagination and shared her passion for the performing arts with hundreds of children. She lived a glamorous life before returning to Pittsburgh to marry her childhood friend, George L. (Salty) Miller. Her business continued to grow with dancing schools in Penn Hills, Squirrel Hill, Forest Hills, Eastmont, and Plum Boro. Her lessons reached thousands of children in the suburban areas of Pittsburgh. Happiness is not something you find, it’s something you create. Maryen Lorrain Miller is not just an educator, but also an institution. She taught children to love to dance. With a generous heart, she gave away immeasurable lessons and countless costumes. All who took Mrs. Miller’s classes remember her fondly, with love and admiration. Many of her students became successful professional performers or went on to open dance schools of their own, however the one she never pushed into the spotlight emerged the most well known ~ her own daughter, Abby Lee Miller.
Mrs. Miller was a life member of Dance Masters of America, and Past-President of Dance Masters of PA, Chpt #10.
Maryen passed away from a long duet with cancer on February 8, 2014. An only child herself, she is survived by her dear friends (the kind, wonderful, real dance moms) who have been with her for years through thick and thin, in the beginning and now at the end. In addition, the MacDonald, McKay, and Miller Families along with her only child, Abby Lee Miller.
Please email sentiments to reigndanceproductions@yahoo.com
In Lieu of Flowers Donations can be made to:
The Maryen Lorrain Children’s Dance Foundation
7123 Saltsburg Road
Pittsburgh, PA 15235
The Maryen Lorrain Children’s Dance Foundation
This not for profit fund will place a dance instructor trained by Maryen Lorrain in communities across the country to teach a Dance Class to children in financial need. Miss Maryen’s lessons will live on forever… through private donations. The Maryen Lorrain Dance Studio is coming to a community near you!
A private ceremony will be held at Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Cemetery in Miami, Florida on Tuesday, February 18, 2014 at 2pm. A Celebration of Life will take place in conjunction with The 2014 Annual Dance Concert in June “Maryen Lorrain, One for the History Books.” Details to come.
Abby Lee Miller’s star pupil and Dance Moms costar Maddie Ziegler took to her own Instagram account to pay tribute to Maryen Lorrain, posting a recent photo and adding “I’m very sorry to say that mrs.miller has left us. She was like the grandma I never had. I’m terribly sad and wish I could say good bye. I love you so much and wish I could hug you right now. @therealabbylee.
Channel Guide Magazine offers condolences to Abby Lee Miller and the entire ALDC family. Dance Moms won’t be the same without the original.