John William Miller

August 15, 1934 - December 22, 2025

John William Miller died peacefully on December 22, 2025 in New York City. He was born in Englewood, New Jersey, August 15, 1934, the youngest of three, to Donald Gray Miller and Evelyn Ahrendt Miller and grew up in Mountain Lakes, New Jersey. Encouraged by his mother and accompanied by his older brother, he cultivated the deep love of nature that would define his entire life. As a professional writer, Miller wrote extensively on various aspects of nature, in particular, beavers, trout, starlings, and ice in publications of the American Museum of Natural History, the Audubon Society, and the New York Times, among others.

John graduated from Oberlin in 1956, where he had a distinguished career as a runner. Known then as the “flying feather,” his record of 9 minutes, 23 seconds for the two-mile run remains unbeaten. He continued running while studying at the University of Edinburgh and then spent ten years in Italy, translating into English the dialogues in Italian films. His friendship in Rome with the artist Giuliano Cucco led to their collaboration and eventual publication – to considerable acclaim - of three children’s books: Winston and George, Red Spider Hero, and, most recently, Before I Grew Up, all published by Enchanted Lion Books after Giuliano’s death in a traffic accident in Rome in 2006. This last book was a Marginalian (formerly Brain Pickings) Best Children’s Book of 2021* Winner of Best Art Award, 2021 Northern Lights Book Awards.

Plans are underway to adapt the book for a play by Alessandro Costantini and Alexis Bernier of Toronto. In this book, John linked a series of Giuliano Cucco’s paintings of his childhood, in so doing, “offering a memorial to his friend by telling the story of how creativity is nurtured and developed. The haunting art does the rest of the job, encouraging readers to make up their own stories to go with the arresting images. Thought provoking and surrealistic in some places, evocative and strange in others.” (New York Journal of Books)

When John returned to New York from Italy, he earned an MFA in creative writing from the City University of New York, then taught language and literature at Hunter College and the Martin Luther King Jr High School, and for many years at the High School of Teaching in New York City. In these years, his writing expanded beyond nonfiction to poetry and plays.

After three previous marriages, John shared the last 15 years of his life with his wife, Elizabeth Parker. He had three stepchildren: Cici Mercer, Chauncey Parker and Stuart Parker, and their children and grandchildren. Known affectionately as “unka,” he is also survived by ten nieces and nephews, the children of his brother Donald and his sister Alice, both deceased: Nina Alice Miller, Suvi Miller, Niels Miller and Donald Miller, III.; Judy Beckman, Jean Beckman, John Beckman, Jr., William Beckman, Barbara Beckman Gutierrez and Janet Beckman. His family and many friends will remember him as a unique spirit, a gentle soul.

A memorial service is planned for the spring. Donations may be made in John’s name to the Natural Resources Defense Council.