COLUMBUS — Although Randy Miller and his wife, Sandy, have communicated with their father, Eugene, over the last year, they recently shared an embrace with him at his residence for the first time in a year due to COVID-19.

“We'd come over and stand by his window and he would be on the cellphone and we could at least talk to each other and see each other. Then they opened it up to visits in the lobby or outside and we would do those things,” said Randy Miller of Dublin. 

Eugene, better known to his friends as “Duby,” has stayed busy playing his beloved keyboard for residents at Dublin Retirement Village. 

The 90-year-old Dover native, who once played in the Ohio State Fair Boy Band, plays two 45-minute concerts a month. 

And Duby said he has about 600 polka and square dance tunes stored in his memory bank. 

“I could never understand why other people couldn't just hear something and play it," he said.

". . . I've been (fortunate) to be here, I think because they've kept me busy. It's helped to past the time,” Duby Miller said. 

Randy Miller said he thinks music keeps Duby sharp.

“It gives him something to prepare for . . . He doesn't use any music. You can hum a tune and tell him to play it and he'll be able to play it,” Randy Miller said. 

While the Millers agree the days of traveling the country are probably over, they look forward to more music and finding joy with the simpler things in life. 

“I'd rather just travel around locally and see things that I haven't seen before,” Duby Miller said. 

Retirement communities across our state currently allow visitors two at a time and require a health screening upon entry.