[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 7]
[Senate]
[Page 9749]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                     REMEMBERING ROBERT MILLER III

 Mr. MURPHY. Mr. President, I speak in memory of the life of 
Robert Jackson Miller III, an accomplished architect and a man who, 
above all else, was a devoted husband and a loving, generous father. 
Bob passed away on March 10, 2014, at the age of 48, leaving behind a 
wife and four daughters who loved him dearly.
  Bob held within him a brilliant capacity to design buildings that 
drew out the full potential and imagination of those who entered their 
doors. Throughout his career--from his early years at Robert A.M. Stern 
Architects and his role as partner-in-charge at Michael Graves and 
Associates in New York, to his co-founding of Miller & Wright 
Architects in New York City--he was a diligent designer who cherished 
the ability he had to provide unique shared space for individuals 
across the United States. He often spoke of his proudest work, the St. 
Coletta School in Washington, DC, a place where children and adults 
with intellectual disabilities were afforded the opportunity to learn 
and grow as a community.
  Yet all of Bob's architectural accomplishments pale in comparison to 
the passion that defined his life: the love he felt for his wife Grace 
and his daughters Eve, Margot, Lily B. and Poppy. To say that Bob was 
an utterly devoted family man would merely scratch the surface of his 
complete dedication to the lives of his wife and daughters. If you were 
to ask Bob, he would prefer nothing in the world more than simply 
sharing a Friday night at home with his family, watching movies or 
relaxing on the beach in their company. He was content to spend as much 
time as he possibly could with them; nothing brought him more joy. If 
you were ever to go to the Miller household, you would invariably find 
Bob hard at work teaching the girls new lacrosse techniques, helping 
them practice for their plays, or helping construct an elaborate 
Halloween costume. His faithfulness as a father and a husband were 
characteristic of the kind soul Bob possessed. When he was diagnosed 
with melanoma, Bob placed even more emphasis on profoundly treasuring 
each moment he was allowed with Grace, Eve, Margot, Lily B. and Poppy. 
He never lost sight of the gift he had been given to spend his life 
with them.
  This will be the first Father's Day the girls spend without their 
father. To lose a valuable, vibrant, compassionate spirit like their 
father's at such a tender age is an incomprehensible tragedy. There are 
moments of pain in this life when we can see the sadness of others and 
desire only to lessen their hurt, knowing full well that our words and 
our sympathies are insufficient. This is such a moment.
  I hope that Grace and the girls understand the bright loveliness 
their father brought into the world, and will continue to carry that 
light forward in his absence. The world is a better place for Bob 
having traveled through it. He is continuing his journey now, but we 
will remember him here, and his family will remember him for the rest 
of their lives. His memory will serve as an example of how to love 
completely, how to dedicate yourself to your family entirely, and how 
to treasure the moments you are given in the brief time we 
have.

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