Alan Miller

1927 - 2023

Alan S. Miller, 95, of San Rafael, died peacefully in his sleep at his Marinwood home of 58 years on April 28, 2023. He was preceded in death by his soulmate and wife of 71 years, Barbara. He is survived by his five children Jane (Morris), Heidi, Wendy (Mark), Michael (Karen), Andy (Farah), grandchildren Todd, Kristen, Aaron, and Roan, great grandson Trent, and generations of close and loving family. Alan was born in 1927 in Minneapolis MN, where he graduated from Washburn High School in 1946. He was on a troop train the next day and spent the next 18 months at Ft. Belvoir, VA as a post-war teletype operator. Under the G.I. Bill, he graduated from the University of Minnesota. Alan and Barbara met at a UM college dance in 1949 and married in 1951. Jane, Heidi, Wendy, and Michael were born in quick succession from 1952 to 1957, with Andy arriving in 1965. They celebrated their 71st anniversary in 2022. Alan subsequently received a Bachelor of Divinity from McCormick Theological Seminary, Master of Sacred Theology from Southern Methodist University, and Doctor of Ministry from San Francisco Theological Seminary. His doctoral dissertation showed the evolution of his theological, social, political, and ethical views - A Planet to Choose: Value Studies in Political Ecology, 1977. As parish minister, campus minister, antiwar counselor, international representative of World Council of Churches, and UC Berkeley professor, the family moved often - Chicago, Donnellson Il, Manistique MI, New Orleans, and Denton, Texas before settling in San Rafael in 1965. As a professor of environmental conservation and ethics for 20+ years, Alan influenced thousands of students in their path to higher education. He was a tireless advocate of education being the best path out of poverty, and often worked with organizations providing resources to deserving young people. A fund to support deserving students has been set up in his honor.As a resident of Marinwood for 55 years, Alan published more than 250 op/ed articles in the Marin Independent Journal from 1994 to 2020, about values, family, cultural issues, education, everyday life. Many residents looked forward to his frequent contributions, and many were published in two volumes of Another Voice Speaking about People. Alan was an active member of the First Congregational Church of San Rafael for over 55 years, where he often stood in as a guest pastor. With their church family, he and Barbara were instrumental in forming the nonprofit Every Dollar Feeds Kids, improving the lives of impoverished kids in Mexico.Alan lived an amazingly rich and full life, filled with family, art, music, travel, love for the natural world, and care for the people of the world. A joint memorial service and Celebration of Life of both Alan and Barbara will be held on August 12, 2023 at the First Congregational Church. Remembrances in Alan's honor can be sent to Every Dollar Feeds Kids.Every Dollar Feeds Kids, Inc. c/o First Congregational Church of San Rafael 8 North San Pedro Road San Rafael, CA 94903 http://edfkeverydollarfeedskids.org
https://fccsanrafael.org/