Robert was born June 21, 1939 in Trenton, NJ, the second son of Edmund E and Marie Belz Miller. He spent a happy childhood in Trenton and graduated from Trenton High School. He attended the University of Pennsylvania, Lehigh University, and the University of Colorado. He was a member of Bethany Presbyterian Church, the Boy Scouts, the Penn crew team, and a Life Member of ASCE.

After graduating from the Penn he worked construction in Greenland, ND, WA, CO, NE, WY and SD. He married Jean Swedlund who he met in a small town in ND. They moved to CA, WA (a second time for Bob) and ID. Bob and Jean moved to the east coast where he worked for the NJ Highway Department before heading back to college at Lehigh where son Tim was born. After graduating from Lehigh, he was offered a position teaching and doing research at the University of Nevada, Reno. He found his future – teaching. Bob enjoyed the academic life and the students. Son, Tom was born in Reno. He returned to college, the University of Colorado, Boulder for a PhD. His next position was at the US Coast Guard Academy in New London, CT. Bob volunteered as an assistant crew coach. The team was coached by Bill Stowe, Olympic gold medal oarsman. The crew was fun and was some relief from the discipline of the academy. Many of the CGA cadets are still good friends, as well as many of Bob's students from colleges over the years.

Anxious to return to the western US, Bob accepted a job teaching at Portland State University in OR. The family lived there for 5 years. Bob's Father had come to Alaska in 1917 to work on the building of AK RR. He had told many stories about Alaska to Bob while he was growing up. The stories made a big impression on Bob and a desire to at least visit AK. In 1981 Bob was offered a position at UAA, expanding the engineering program. The family loved Alaska and it is home.

Bob taught at the University of Alaska Anchorage for over 20 years. He enjoyed his students, the great Alaska outdoors, Nordic skiing, mountain biking, hiking and camping. Retirement was spent traveling and enjoying family, old friends and meeting new friends.

Bob passed away under Hospice Cre at Maple Springs Senior Care. Special thanks to the hospice staff and many of the caregivers at Maple Springs and Home Instead for their kind attention. His parents preceded him in death, along with his brother Edmund. He is survived by his wife Jean of 59 years, son Timothy (daughter-in-law Nora) and son Thomas (partner Tracy).

While not particularly religious, Bob would find passages from the Bible to read on holidays or write in letters. This is from the book of Timothy: "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith."

Send to someone

Share this obituary with others

https://everloved.com/life-of/robert-elser-miller/obituary/

Copy