High standards for maths man

PROFESSOR John B Miller was born on 23 March 1928, the second son of Boris and Noeline Miller.
The family lived in Rose Bay, Sydney, until John was two, and then moved to Vauclause.
He attended Cranbrook Church of England School in Dover Heights with his brothers Peter and Robin, and when the family moved to Turramurra at the commencement of World War II, the three boys attended Knox Grammar School in Wahroonga.
John excelled academically and graduated Dux in 1945.
He undertook a science degree with the University of Sydney, studying physics, chemistry, geology and maths, in which he received first class honours and was awarded the Proxime Accessit medal.
John was then awarded a scholarship to Cambridge University in England, and during his summer break he purchased a Vespa motor scooter and travelled around Europe.
It was the beginning of an enduring passion for travel.
Returning to Australia, John commenced teaching at St Peter’s College in Adelaide where he met and married his beloved wife Brenda Wilson.
He lectured in mathematics at the University of New England then the couple returned to Canberra, where he undertook the role of senior lecturer/reader in maths at University College (later ANU).
It was at this time that the couple’s two children, Timothy and Sarah were born.
The family built a home in Inglis Road, Berwick, in 1965, where John and Brenda nurtured their beautiful garden and became actively involved in the local community.
He was immensely proud of his family and hosted Easter egg hunts every year, where he took great and obvious pleasure in hiding the eggs and watching as they were discovered by grandsons Damian, Brendan and Nicholas.
John was also regularly invited to lecture overseas, and the family travelled extensively.
Sarah recalls: “In 1969, we stayed in Canada for a year.
“Dad bought us all ice skates, froze over the snow to make a rink, and taught me how to skate.”
Sarah went on to join the Australian national team and compete for her country.
John and Brenda formed BADCA (Berwick and District Community Association) and were passionate about preserving Berwick’s heritage.
John sometimes said he felt a great sadness at the loss of a time when “life was slower, more gentle, less ambitious” in Berwick.
He was also founding member of the Berwick Artists Society, discovering a passion and great talent for painting after his retirement in 1989 from Monash University where he was Emeritus Professor of Pure Mathematics. He continued to research and publish.
A great lover of the arts, classical music, opera and learning, John was a reserved and gentle man who continued to be involved with both the local and global community, unafraid to express an opinion.
He had an extraordinary sense of logic and was an unrepentant pedant who sought perfection in everything he did.
John’s funeral service will be held at 1pm today (Wednesday) at Berwick Anglican Church.