Brendan Brian Miller's Obituary
Brendan Brian Miller, born December 29th, 1966, passed away on Sunday December 25th, 2022 in Gainesville, Florida, at the age of fifty-five. He is survived by his wife, Nancy (Dohn), his siblings Christine (Cassissi), Chuck (Miller), Steve (Miller), Matt (Miller), Jennifer (Miller), and Pete (Miller); his stepchildren, Nathan (Gholz), Sophia (Gholz), and Sean (Gholz); and his grandchildren, Eden (Gholz), Olivia (Olson), and Hunter (Olson).
Born a Steelers fan to Glenn Miller and Betsy Miller in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Brendan was the sixth of seven children, and if you asked him, the smartest. As a kid, his quiet and introspective temperament made him a fast favorite among the Miller clan. His mother was especially taken with his sweet smile, sense of humor, and unruly ginger hair.
In later years, Brendan could often be found with a novel in hand. He had a strong passion for education and learning and graduated class of 1985 from Gainesville High School. He then pursued a bachelor’s degree in history from the University of Florida. Brendan began his career at UF Health Shands while still in college and remained an integral part of their I.T. team for nearly four decades. His professional contributions to the organization are substantial. But most importantly, he was a mentor, leader, and friend.
Throughout his life, Brendan’s studious side was balanced by his playful and inquisitive spirit. In 1998, while climbing Lookout Mountain in North Carolina (one of his favorite places to climb), Brendan crossed paths with the love of his life, Nancy Dohn, whom he won over with his baby face, brilliant sarcasm, and unending stock of random facts; he would go on to forever refer to her as his “cutie girl”. In August of that same year, Nancy proposed to him and Brendan said, “yes”. He was a lucky man, indeed. In 1999, Brendan and Nancy wed in a beautiful ceremony in Gainesville, Florida, and Brendan became stepfather to Nathan, Sophia, and Sean, along with several cats, dogs, birds, and other critters. Brendan’s and Nancy’s twenty-three-year marriage was filled with laughter, love, and adventure. Perhaps the greatest adventure, in his eyes, was that of helping to raise his granddaughter, Eden.
Anyone who knew Brendan knew him for his sharp wit, Irish roots, passion for history, political acumen, and the unforgettable way he’d laugh until he cried. Among his many accomplishments, Brendan hiked the entire 154km West Highland Way trail in Scotland, he kayaked Glacier Bay in Alaska (sleeping soundly through a grizzly bear encounter), he was a certified sailboat captain, an official Irish Lord of Kerry, an avid fan of biking the trails around Gainesville (especially the Hawthorne Trail), and an experienced hang-glider who once frequented Cloudland Canyon State Park. He loved to travel, whether it was a visiting family in New York City, Hawaii and Washington, D.C. or to exotic places like Scotland, the Azores, Ireland, and the Bahamas.
As a sibling, Brendan was well-loved and considered a consummate optimist. He oversaw the lottery pool in his I.T. Department for ten years, believing the lucky numbers were always just a ticket away. In friendship, he was quick to lend an ear, a hug, or his home to anyone in need. For many, Brendan was the steady ship in a turbulent sea.
As a husband, stepfather and grandfather, Brendan’s love and support was unending…as was his patience. He never failed to answer the phone in the middle of the night or drop everything in an instant to be there for his loved ones. Aside from being a walking encyclopedia for his grandkids, Brendan was known to them as “Bepa”—a jokester, a pro-snuggler (or wrestler), a swimming partner, and an excellent boardgame opponent. He was the humor and anchor of the family, who brought levity and light to every moment. He will be dearly, dearly missed.
A celebration of life will be held on Monday January 2nd, 2023 at 1:00 PM, at Kanapaha Botanical Gardens, 4700 SW 58th Dr, Gainesville, FL 32608. Guests have complimentary access to the gardens before and after the ceremony. In lieu of gifts or flowers, please consider making a donation in Brendan’s name to his favorite local radio station, WUFT NPR, using the following link: https://www.wuft.org/donate/
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