William H. Miller

1926 - 2018

Miller, William H.
William Henry Miller, 92, of Woodbridge, CT, died on August 13 at home surrounded by his devoted family. Born August 7, 1926 in Baltimore, MD to Henry Solomon Miller and Dr. Ella Oppenheimer Miller.
William H. Miller graduated from Haverford College with a BA in 1948, after serving in the navy during World War II, and graduated from Johns Hopkins Medical School in 1954. He then pursued a notable basic science career, first with Nobel Laureate H.K. Hartline and Floyd Ratliff at the Rockefeller University in New York City. While in New York, he married Irene Klahr. He spent the next 60 years with Irene creating the family that was the only love that exceeded his passion for science and knowledge. In 1964, Bill and his family moved to New Haven, where he became Professor of Medicine at Yale University School of Medicine and made seminal discoveries in the molecular basis of vision, changing the predominantly held paradigm of that time. He published more than a hundred scientific papers during his career in the most prestigious of journals, including Nature and Science and was honored for these contributions in 1990 with the Proctor Medal by the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology. He also will be remembered for his command of poetry and literature – especially Samuel Johnson, his love of sailing on the Rangeley Lakes, and his exceptional generosity and kindness.
Bill is survived by his spouse, Irene, his children, Karen Klahr Miller (Craig Bunnell) of Brookline, MA, Lori Miller of Los Angeles, CA, and Benjamin Henry Miller (Linda Strunk Miller) of San Francisco, CA, as well as five beloved grandchildren, Ella Klahr Bunnell, Katherine May Bunnell, Sophie Marie Miller, Maxine Miller Eschger, and Claudia Llyn Miller. Also, surviving is his sister Patsy Perlman and her family.
The services will be on WEDNESDAY (TODAY) at 3 p.m. at the Robert E. Shure Funeral Home, 543 George St, New Haven. The family will receive
visitors at their home following the services. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Rangeley Lakes Heritage Trust, in Rangeley Maine.