Julia Miller

Julia Breed Miller

April 11, 1917 - June 13, 2013

Seattle, WA

Julia Breed Miller (Judy to friends & family) died peacefully in Seattle, WA on June 13, 2014. A longtime resident of Raleigh (1956-2007), Judy was Dean of Women at NCSU from 1961-1965 and wife of Psychology Department Chair Howard G. Miller, who predeceased her in 2012.

Born in Lyndonville, NY in 1917, Judy was the third of Ione and Ernest Breed's six children. Judy loved literature and creative writing and was salutatorian of her high school class. Judy enrolled at the University of Michigan where she earned AB & MA degrees in French. In pursuit of a deeper knowledge of French language and literature, she toured France in the summer of 1939. Judy recalled that on the return trip home, the ship's crew were frantically installing blackout shades to avoid being a target for German planes & warships, as Hitler had just invaded Poland.

After teaching high school French in Bloomfield Heights, MI, Judy pursued graduate work in psychology at the University of Buffalo. There she met her husband, Howard. They married in 1948 and moved to State College, PA where Howard earned his Ph.D. in psychology. In 1956, Howard was offered the chairmanship of NCSU Psychology Department. The Millers moved to Raleigh that year with their two daughters, Sarah (Seattle, WA) and Julie (Rochester, NY). Howard & Judy resided in Raleigh until 2007, when they moved to Seattle, home of their daughter, Sarah.

When Judy became NCSU's women's advisor in 1961, there were only 200 coeds at NSCU! There was no women's dormitory; coeds lived in rented rooms around town. There was no student union or meeting place on campus where the women could relax between classes. During Judy's tenure, a room in the Student Union was designated for women students' exclusive use and a women's dorm, Watauga Hall was also built in 1965.

Judy led a very active civic life, participating in the League of Women Voters, the Cosmopolitan Club, United Church, ACLU, the Wake County Hopeline, Raleigh Public Schools and the NC & Wake County Democratic Party. In the '70s, she was monitor/lobbyist for the NC Psychological Association at the NC Legislature. Judy was a renowned cook and generous hostess. Every year, Judy & Howard reunited with extended family at the "Breed Cottage" on the shore Lake Ontario, in NY. Judy was an adoring, generous & playful grandmother to Emma & Eleni Hardman (Seattle) and Ben, Sophie & Sam (Rochester).

Judy is survived by her sister, Betty Carbonaro of Roslyn Heights, NY, daughters & son-in-laws Sarah Miller & Craig Hardman and Julie Miller & Paul Schacht.

Donations in memory of Judy may be sent to the Howard & Julia Endowment, NCSU Libraries, NCSU 7111, Raleigh, NC 27695.