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JOHN MILNER Obituary
Dr. JOHN A. MILNER, Ph.D. (Age 66)
Of Potomac, MD passed away on Tuesday, December 31, 2013. Born in Pine Bluff, AR, he had an impactful career in human nutrition and cancer prevention. He was an internationally respected scientist, well known for his broad understanding of nutrition and its role in cancer prevention. Amongst his many awards, he was honored as a AAAS fellow and published more than 250 book chapters, monographs, and journal articles. John began his career at the University of Illinois, continued on to serve as the department head at Penn State University, and a chief scientist at the National Institutes of Health. Dr. Milner was most recently working as the Director of the USDA Beltsville Human Nutrition Center. He enjoyed a fulfilling 35 year marriage to Mary Frances Picciano, who passed in 2010, and is survived by their two children, Kristina Milner of Annapolis, MD, and Matthew Milner of State College, PA; along with a legion of loyal friends. Friends will be received at PUMPHREY'S COLONIAL FUNERAL HOME, 300 W. Montgomery Ave.(Rt. 28 just off I-270 exit 6A), Rockville, MD on Monday January 6 from 3 to 5 and 7 to 9 p.m. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the John A. Milner Graduate Student Endowment in Nutritional Sciences, Department of Nutritional Sciences, Penn State University, 201 Henderson Bldg., University Park, Pa. 16802. Please view and sign family guestbook at: www.pumphreyfuneralhome.com
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for JOHN MILNER
Dan Waitzberg
December 29, 2024
John, I miss you!
Alessandro Laviano
December 29, 2022
In loving memory of a wonderful person. We will love you and miss you always.
Dan Waitzberg
December 29, 2022
We miss you very much
Marilyn Tanner-Blasiar
January 28, 2014
Milner Family, So sorry for your loss. Just wanted you to know that as a student at the University of Illinois both of your parents were AMAZING educators- not only about nutrition, but their advice on career paths and "real life". Please know that throughout my career as a Dietitian- both of your parents made such an impact not only at U of I but such significant ongoing nutrition related issues. So proud to have been able to be their student. So sorry for your loss.
Shawn & Dwayne Blain
January 27, 2014
My heart is so heavy after learning of the passing of Dr. Milner. My husband was hired by and set to begin working for Dr. Milner today. We both send forth our condolences and offer up prayers of comfort. My husband is really at a lost for words. May God bless you and your family in this time of sorrow.
Carol Ireton-Jones
January 15, 2014
Dr. Milner was a wonderful researcher and educator. He will be missed.
Luiza Kent-Smith
January 15, 2014
Dear Kristina and Mathew,
The nutrition world joins you in mourning the loss of your Dad. We will all miss the brilliant scientist and amazing scholar who contributed so much to our lives. He had an amazing sense of humour and could tell a story like no one. We travelled together last summer in Brazil and I teased him often about the 900 emails that he had to get through! Helped him pick out some of the souvenirs he brought back for you. We talked about our respective kids and my baby grandson and he was immensely proud of you both. We were planning another trip together this summer in Brazil. I will miss him and I think of him often. May he rest in peace and may you both overcome this terrible loss.
My sincere condolences
Luiza Kent-Smith (Saskatoon, Canada)
Wayne Askew
January 14, 2014
John was a good friend and adviser to the military nutrition community, having served on the Institute of Medicine Advisory Committee on Military Nutrition Research. His expertise and good humor will be missed.
Steve Heymsfield
January 13, 2014
John was a role model for all of us and I am deeply saddened by his untimely loss.
Lynn Sorbara
January 8, 2014
To the Milner Family: John was a wonderful person and scientist. To me, he was always cheerful, kind, compassionate, and supportive. He will be sorely missed. I pray you will find comfort in knowing that he touched so many lives in such a positive way.
Ralph Green
January 8, 2014
John Milner has been an inspiration to so many scientists, young and old, working in the field of nutrition - a great friend and warm colleague, an ever interesting and skillful raconteur - he will be missed by many.
angela waitzberg
January 7, 2014
John has been always an example for dietitians in Brazil since he started to contribute to our meetings and conferences. He was able to build a network in nutrition with other icons of nutrition and shared this wprld with anyone that was interested.
I hope that his Memory continues to inspire yong professionals around the world.
Rémy Meier
January 6, 2014
I'm so sad not having John among us anymore. He was brilliant and good friend.
We spent great times together in Brasil and the world.
Wish him peace and his family all the best to come over the sadness.
Allen Levine
January 6, 2014
John was a great member of our nutrition community--beloved and respected by his peers. We will miss him dearly.
Alessandro Laviano
January 6, 2014
I will also remember the inspiring discussions we had at congresses and meetings.
Thomas Schmidt
January 6, 2014
Kristina and Jack, Matt and Lauren,
It is very difficult for me to find the appropriate words to express the deep sadness I feel at the loss of your Dad and my long-time friend John. Our friendship began when we were both graduate students at Cornell and has deeped over the years. I will miss him very much and extend my deepest sympathy to you certainly and to all of his friends and colleagues . Your Dad was a terific guy who was dedicated to his family and their happiness. Whenever he was here for a seminar at the University of Iowa he was always anxious to share with me your career and wedding plans. He was SO proud of you! As I'm sure you know , I was also very fond of Mary Frances and was deeply sadden at her passing several years ago. My heart, my tears, and my thoughts are with you today.
I tried unsuccessfully to find a flight that would get me to DC for the memorial service. There have been several major snow storms here in the mid-west and many flights out of Chicago and Detroit have been cancelled. That situation, coupled with all the holiday travel, just made it impossible for me to find an available seat. I hope you understand that I really wanted to be there for you today.
I will always treasure my fond memories of you Dad and your Mom and consider myself extremely fortunate to have had such wonderful friends. They will always have a special place in my heart. May Saint Francis shed his eternal grace and love on both of them. May he also grant you the strength that you will need in the coming months and constantly remind you of how lucky you were to have had such a wonderful and loving father.
With deepest sympathy,tears and loving thoughts, Tom
John Bauer, DVM, PhD
January 6, 2014
John was a mentor of mine as a graduate student at Illinois in the Nutritional Sciences program. He understood the connection of One Health. He knew and understood the intricate relationship between people and their pets more than any highly respected scientist given his full career on the clinical and human side of health and medicine. A great sense of humor and ability to integrate science with humanity. He will be difficult to replace.
My sincere condolences to John's family.
Linda
January 6, 2014
John's unexpected passing drew many of us here in federal government inter-agencies who interacted with John to share our respect and remembrance of this great man who loved life and cherished his family, friendship circles and gave so devotedly of his many talents as a peak performer and effective leader throughout his remarkable research career.
John's academic and government career were special not only because of his outstanding achievements but for his infectious enthusiasm and openness to novel insights. His contributions to colleagues were immense and always greatly appreciated. He will be dearly loved and missed.
Linda Duffy, PhD
Scientific Chair, NIH DNRC/NCC-PPWG
Penny & Terry Etherton
January 6, 2014
John did so much to touch so many lives, both personally and professionally. We will miss him and his intellect, wit and wisdom. Peace be with you.
Sheila West
January 4, 2014
John and Mary Frances had a huge impact on students, colleagues, and the field of nutrition. They loved each other, and their children, deeply.
C Naseer Ahmad
January 4, 2014
John was one of the most loving and generous human beings I met. On Dec 31, 2013 at 7:50pm he wrote to me a loving message. Little did I know that we will now only meet in the hereafter. But he is alive in our thoughts and prayers with a loving memory that will live with us forever.
Dick Niles
January 4, 2014
I was shocked to hear about the untimely passing of John. He was an outstanding scientist and administrator. I was fortunate to know him and share his passion for moving research on cancer and dietary components into the clinic. He will be very much missed as a colleague.
Dan Waitzberg
January 4, 2014
To brazilians , John Milner opened the doors of modern knowledge in molecular biology of cancer and nutrition . But more than that he was always open and generous to offer whatever support was possible to contribute to enlight the nutrition field. For me , Angela my wife, David and Michael ,John was a very dear friend. We had the special luck to share his company in US at his home and in our home in Brazil. He was always ready to participate at any happening with joy, enthusiasm and a special sense of teasing humor . We are missing you John and we will be missing you a lot. But we are sure that your seed all over the world will continue to grow honoring your brave spirit of human loving.
Elizabeth Susman
January 4, 2014
I am so sorry to hear of John's passing. We served together on committees at PSU. He was a delightful colleague who never failed to make me see the humor in life. Liz
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