Michael “Mike” Eller, a guitarist and McDonogh School instructor, died of lung cancer complications June 10 at University of Maryland St. Joseph Medical Center. The Lutherville resident was 72.
Born in Chicago, he was the son of John Eller, an insurance executive and Helen O’Brien, an antique dealer. His family moved to Baltimore when he was a child and he attended Immaculate Conception School in Towson before graduating in 1970 from Towson High School. He attended Berklee College of Music in Boston where he studied guitar and composition.
He met his future wife Susan Waters-Eller at the old Luskin’s appliance store in Towson. He had a temporary job in maintenance and she was a summer switchboard operator. He was giving guitar lessons at the time.
He also performed with the Dave Penn Quartet and Al Miller and the Skyliners and later with jazz organist Dennis Fisher’s Trio. “If I ever wanted to add a guitar player, it would be Mike Eller,” said Mr. Fisher, the leader of the jazz ensemble.
“He was a good musician and performed with us at a society gig or club. He was easygoing and always showed up for rehearsals.” “As a young man, his grandmother gave him a guitar and encouraged him,” his wife said.
“He was a fan of acoustic-electric guitars and owned a Howard Roberts model and several Gibsons. He had a quiet sound — really mellow.” Mr.
Eller joined the faculty of McDonogh School in 1987. “Mike and his troupe of student guitarists could always be c.
