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Marie Miller Obituary
Marie V. Miller (nee Kowalyk), 90, died on May 31, 2017 after a long and full life. She leaves behind her daughter, Julianne Miller de Rivera and her husband, Eric and their 2 sons William and John Henry; and her daughter Alice Miller and her partner Amy Kapczynski, and their 2 sons, Milo, and Cyrus. Marie was predeceased by her husband of 42 years, William T. Miller, in 1997. Marie was born and raised in the Bronx. While in high school during World War II, she sewed parachutes for the US Air Force, learned Morse Code, and learned how to identify airplane silhouettes. She was the first member of her family to attend college. At Hunter College in New York, she majored in History and minored in Astronomy. One of her proudest moments was identifying an unusual bolide meteor which was registered to the international astronomical society in 1945. Marie, affectionately known by her students as 'Killer Miller,' taught at Simsbury High School for 43 years, retiring at the tender age of 84. Marie loved her many students in her 10th grade honors American Literature classes, her public speaking classes, and her film courses (which she introduced to the high school curriculum in 1970). Marie was the faculty adviser of the National Honor Society for 36 years. Throughout her career, Marie received numerous local and state awards honoring her for her enthusiasm, generosity, innovation, and academic rigor. She was famous for her letters of recommendation that were individual and detailed as they reflected her relationship with each student she knew. In addition, Marie traveled the world with her husband, taught Ukrainian Easter Egg Coloring in her neighborhood for many years, and was an early adopter of the Julia Child's art of French cooking technique. Marie's family would like to thank her longtime caregivers Nancy, Maisy, and Jackie; and of course, her wonderful neighbors, especially Jack. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Simsbury High School 34 Farms Village Road Simsbury, CT 06070 with a Memo line: Marie V. Miller Scholarship . Calling hours and informal gathering will be held at 68 Hildurcrest Drive, Simsbury, Connecticut on June 9th from 4p til 8p. Marie's family and Simsbury High School are planning an event for the fall in tribute to the legacy of Marie Miller.
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Memories and Condolences
for Marie Miller
Sponsored by the family.
Ben M
January 22, 2021
Twenty-eight years after I graduated high school, Mrs. Miller popped into my head. And here I am, reading her obituary, wishing I had asked her more about her life when I had the chance. She was one of my most important teachers. I took her 10th grade English class. I'll never forget the day she came to class wearing a scarlet "A". And then when I decided I wanted to start a debate team, she volunteered to be our coach. She was so generous with her time and energy. She once complimented me after a debate tournament, and I've been lifted by those kind words my whole life. I have no doubt her letter of recommendation got me into college. I am sure I never expressed to her the gratitude she deserved. She was a truly great teacher.
Amy (Smith) Mitchell
October 18, 2017
Mrs. Miller taught us all how to write. I'll never forget how, for the first paper she assigned our class, the average grade was something like 40%. All these honors kids -- we weren't used to that kind of grade! Thanks to her, I was able to become a writing tutor in my first term at college an easily went on to my jobs in PR and marketing, ghost writing, and now blogging and magazine writing. I'm employable, thanks to Mrs. Miller.
Aaron Burrick
June 11, 2017
What a wonderful teacher and human being. Ten years later, and I still think about her and her lessons on a regular basis. And all of the analogies. And how the most euphonious phrase in the English language is "lucent syrups, tinct with cinnamon." And the infamous 100-word sentence assignment.
Truly a life-changing woman.
Carolyn Spooner
June 7, 2017
So sorry to hear of this. She was a truly bright light.
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Dan Reilly
June 6, 2017
I'm sorry to here of Mrs. Miller's passing, and offer my condolences to you, her family and friends. Her film class was my most memorable at SHS. If you come across these Super8 classics from 1979/1980 -- "Heaven's Devils," and an oh so dramatic [title?] stop motion animation of a pingpong ball escaping the attack of a gang of billiard balls -- let me know. I'll give her the credit she deserves from the podium at Sundance or Cannes. She is such an intelligent, kind and FUN woman. I imagine she lived a life fulfilled. --> Peace
Susan Peckitt
June 5, 2017
Mrs. Miller taught me so much, she taught way above my head, and she asked questions that have guided my reading ever since. I began to understand what she'd given me when I became a teacher. The consummate professional, unflappable, rigorous, implacably patient, she surprised us with her rowdiness on stage in a faculty show. She embodied the liberal spirit. I'm so grateful I had that year (1970-71) in her class.
Audrey Kunycky
June 5, 2017
Mrs. Miller! She is one of those teachers who you always remember, with love and gratitude. And she always remembered me and my brothers and sisters when we saw her in Simsbury, even many many (many!) years later.
Nancy Kaplan
June 5, 2017
What a light - she will be missed!
Lissa (Short) Poincenot
June 5, 2017
Condolences...warm memories...gratitude.
Pinnacle 1974
Shelly (Armitage) Stalnaker
June 4, 2017
I remember our first "SAT Friday" and her bewilderment when we all had the same answers to each question. In all innocence, we had vigorously discussed and debated the answers over lunch, not realizing that was exactly what she was hoping to have happen during class time. We all had a good laugh over that. Vigorous debate and rigorous thinking were par for the course in her classroom, and we loved it. Outside the classroom, I enjoyed learning the art of pysanky from her, and spent many hours carefully scribing designs in her basement. One lone egg remains from my efforts, located in a place of honor in my bookcase. While I was never her star pupil, I enjoyed the camaraderie and challenge she fostered in her classroom. Godspeed...
Michelle Walker
June 4, 2017
Mrs. Miller embodied passion and high standards. I will forever remember and continue to share stories from my experience in her class! We were blessed to have her at SHS!
Haley Kerr
June 4, 2017
She had the phrase 'eschew obfuscation' in her chalkboard through most of my class and i had to look it up but it was such a funny little expression of who she was. One of my most favorite teachers, I will always be grateful. I still think about her when I write.
Andrew Grote
June 4, 2017
I was literally (not figuratively) thinking of my favorite English teacher yesterday, and wondering if I could tell her the impact she had on me over 25 years later. She taught me how to understand and express my own ideas, and how to speak in public without saying "um" (an invaluable skill).
The nickname "killer Miller" was affectionate - she was a tough, fair teacher, but how could anyone really be intimidated by the constant smile? I remember her cheeky grin as she ware a scarlet "A" around the school during her Nathanial Hawthorne week!
Thank you Mrs Miller, for everything, and for continuing to teach, and to touch as many lives as you did.
Nancy Hendryx
June 3, 2017
Ms. Miller was my daughter's favorite teacher at Simsbury High School. I remember sitting in on on her Honors English class in approximately 2003. She had an energy and enthusiasm that belied her age. She is fondly remembered.
Carin DeRosa
June 3, 2017
My condolences to her family. I loved having her for my public speaking teacher at SHS. 30-plus years later, I still keep her pointers in mind.
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