My Story

A Life of Guts, Grit, and Gusto

My Story

A Life of Guts, Grit, and Gusto

DR. ERICA MILLER

Dr. Erica Miller was born on November 10, 1933 in Tshernovitz, Romania. For seven years, Erica and her family lived a “normal” life. At the tender age of seven, Erica and her family were among thousands of Jews herded into cattle cars and imprisoned in a Nazi holding camp in Mogilev, Ukraine.

After four years of indescribable oppression and deprivation, Erica, her parents, and her sister were liberated by the Russians. Erica had no formal education while in the concentration camp. Entering school for first time at age 11 (or fifth grade), she quickly learned the basics of reading, writing and math. Much to the surprise, and in some cases chagrin, of her teachers and classmates, she excelled at all three.

Her family emigrated to Israel in 1949, when she was 15. Erica attended high school at night while working during the day. Since education was not a priority at that time, receiving her high school diploma was an unusual accomplishment.

After high school, Erica, unlike other young girls, pursued her dream to join the Israeli Air Force. Committed to defending her country, she served proudly from 1954-1956, committed to defending her country. After her military service, she landed a prestigious job at the Israeli Government Tourist Information Office in Tel Aviv where she worked from 1956-1958.

Next, fate and opportunity took her life’s journey to Los Angeles, California, where she attended the University of Judaism (now American Jewish University) to pursue a degree in Hebrew education. While in Los Angeles, she met her future husband, Jerry Miller. Together they built a nest and filled it with two children.

In 1970, Erica returned to school and eight years later, graduated with a Ph.D. in clinical psychology. Shortly afterwards, leveraging her unparalleled drive and her husband’s keen marketing skills, they opened a chain of mental health clinics throughout Los Angeles and Orange County. In addition, they ran California Diversion Intervention Foundation, a non-profit organization, offering programs to serve the needs of the substance abuse and domestic violence population referred by the Courts.

Today, in addition to public speaking, Dr. Miller oversees her family’s real estate business in Austin, Texas. She’s written three books, “The Dr. Erica Miller Story: From Trauma to Triumph,”“Don’t Tell Me I Can’t Do It: Living Audaciously in the Here and Now” and the international best-seller,  “Chronologically Gifted: Aging with Gusto!”

“Erica Miller’s “The Dr. Erica Miller Story: From Trauma to Triumph” is a brave and riveting book about the horror of surviving the Holocaust. She turned her darkness into hope and light. A must-read for anyone curious about the power that rose from Hitler’s ashes.”

 

REBECCA AND DR. PETER GROSSMAN

Grossman Burn Centers and Foundation

Dr. Erica Miller is such an engaging and inspirational speaker. Only she can deliver such an authentic perspective of history, trauma and living beyond the Holocaust from both a clinical and personal perspective. She had us all laughing and crying!


RENEE HANSON MALONE

Director of Development, Austin Child Guidance Center

“An amazing woman who has moved mountains.”


JOANNE HERRING

Global Political Activist and Author, “Diplomacy and Diamonds”

“Wow! What a talk at Rotary yesterday. You had the group listening intently and laughing regularly. My late mother, a second-generation Jew, would have said, ‘What a broad.’ Thanks.”


MICHAEL HARRIS

Woodland Hills Rotary Club

We have witnessed tragedies of immense proportion on a regular basis. However, we have also seen the power of the human spirit at its greatest. Dr. Erica Miller’s story is a strong example of how truly powerful the human spirit can be when put to the test.


REBECCA AND DR. PETER GROSSMAN

Grossman Burn Centers and Foundation

Many people experience challenges in life, but I have never met a more inspiring, fearless woman than Dr. Erica Miller.


MARY ANN HALPIN

Founder and CEO, Fearless Women Global

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