John Philip Miller

John Philip Miller of Smyrna, GA - Jack to most who knew him - passed away on December 10, 2022 at the age of 82 after struggling with failing health for several weeks. Jack was born December 27, 1939 in New York City to John Coleman Miller and Vivian Catherine Miller (née Sanguinetti), spending his early years living in Lake Ronkonkoma on Long Island and moving with his family to St. Petersburg, FL at the age of eight. At Northeast High School in St. Petersburg, FL Jack was remembered for excelling in athletics, playing baseball on school teams as well as in local leagues, in the visual and graphic arts, including painting, drawing and wood carving, and in what would ultimately become his professional career and lifelong love, trumpet and the performing arts. He also gained his first professional artistic experience while in high school working with the design team at the famed Webb’s City Department Store creating elaborate window display sets as well as working in the sign painting shop. Jack began college at St. Petersburg Junior College in 1960, where he would soon meet a freshman euphonium player and fellow music major named Sally Fuller who would become his bride in 1966. He completed his degree at Florida State University where he was a member of the Marching Chiefs, graduating with a Bachelor of Music Education in 1964. In 1966, Jack began a 33-year career as a band director in the Atlanta Public Schools, teaching at Brown HS, D.M. Therrell HS, and various elementary schools. During this tenure the scope and reach of his influence on thousands of students cannot be overstated. Jack started hundreds of young musicians on the road to careers as professional musicians, music educators and band directors, including both of his own children. More than that, however, he used music to teach life lessons about responsibility, leadership, confidence and personal excellence. He is universally remembered by former students, regardless of their chosen career path, as “beloved”, their “favorite teacher”, “tough but fair”, someone who “helped make me the person I am today”, and “one of the most influential men in my life.” As a performer, Jack played trumpet with numerous groups and ensembles, including the St. Petersburg Symphony Orchestra, Atlanta Community Orchestra, Emory Wind Ensemble, Big Band Atlanta, the Nostalgics Big Band and the pit orchestra for the Crystal Pistol Music Hall at Six Flags over Georgia. He was also in demand as a freelance performer, playing for countless church services, musicals and special events. He co-founded the Big Peach Swing Band and played lead trumpet with the group until just a few weeks before his death. In 1973, Jack joined the Concert Band of Georgia - later renamed the Atlanta Concert Band - as principal trumpet. He was named Conductor and Music Director in 1985 and served in that position for 25 years, after which he was named Conductor Emeritus. Jack will undoubtedly also be remembered by many as a multitalented artist with a wide variety of interests beyond music. Artistically there were few mediums and formats he did not explore - oil painting, watercolors, woodcut block printing, sketching, pen and ink, pastels, wood carving, sculpting (clay, marble and the occasional bowling ball), set design, murals, jewelry design, and on and on. One of his most treasured traditions - eagerly anticipated annually by many - was to design and create his own Christmas cards, which he did each December for over 50 years. He enjoyed gardening and cooking and was an accomplished woodworker and carpenter. Jack also had a lifelong love of cars, and enjoyed working on, repairing and restoring them. Jack’s personality was larger than life. His sense of humor was unmatched, his laugh infectious, and his ability to be just plain silly put everyone at ease. As one person put it, he made those he touched not just better musicians, but better human beings. Jack is survived by his wife of 56 years, Sarah F. Miller (Sally) of Smyrna, GA, brother Lawrence A. Miller (Larry) of St. Petersburg, FL, daughter Shelley M. Miller of Lawrenceville, GA, and son and daughter-in-law Marc P. Miller and Tzipporah Gerson-Miller and their children Elisheva Sounia and Liev Philip of Marietta, GA. He was preceded in death by parents John Coleman Miller and Vivian Catherine Sanguinetti. A memorial service will be held at St. James Episcopal Church in Marietta, GA at 1pm on Saturday, January 14, 2023, with a reception immediately following at the church. Interment will take place at Largo City Cemetery in Largo, FL at 12pm on Monday, January 16, 2023 following a brief graveside service. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Jack’s memory to any of the following organizations: Atlanta Concert Band - John P. Miller Student Mentorship Program, Bassett Hound Rescue of Georgia, or St. James Episcopal Church Music Ministry.

John Philip Miller

December 27, 1939 - December 10, 2022