Dr. Arthur McA. Miller
Dr. Arthur McA. Miller
Dr. Arthur McA. “Mac” Miller passed away peacefully in his sleep at home on August 28, 2026. Before he passed, he recited the last words of famous authors and concluded with Peter Pan’s last words: “So, onward!”
Mac was born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, December 27, 1937, to Willard D. Miller and Julia (McKinsey) Miller. The grandson of George McA. Miller, founder of Ruskin, Florida, and Ruskin College, Mac valued a truly well-rounded education. He attended Culver Military Academy (1955), Princeton University (1959), and Duke University (1966) where he earned a doctorate in English. Dr. Miller graduated from the Command and General Staff School and was an officer in the U.S. Army and Army Reserves, retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel.
In 1964, Mac became a professor at New College, in Sarasota, FL, where he taught literature and poetry for over 40 years. The founding editor of “New CollAge Magazine” (1964 to 2003), his book Overdrive was published in 2022 by Red Mountain Press. He gave slideshow lectures about the history of Ruskin, Florida, (and wrote a monograph based on interviews of old-timers), led poetry workshops, and worked in his last years to preserve the radical vision of intellectual freedom instantiated at New College.
Above all, Mac was kind. He was full of good cheer and had a sardonic wit. Mac was an excellent cook, small motor mechanic and child wrangler. He enjoyed boating on the Ruskin Inlet and Little Manatee River. He loved opera as much as Elvis. He loved silly toys, like drinking birds, and real toys, like Mateo the dog. Mac’s former students attribute all their good looks and success to his wise counsel.
He was predeceased by his parents; his first wife, MaryAnn (Fulmer) Miller; and two of his sons, Milton and Auden. He is survived by his wife, Dr. Melanie Hubbard; his former wife, Carol Mahler; his children, Eloise, Nathan, Claire, Kathleen (Skyler) and Ky; his grandchildren, David Cook, Anna Cooley (Tyler), Rowan Stahl, Avery Stahl; and his great granddaughter, Ayla Cooley.
A Celebration of Life will be held from 2-5 p.m. at the Firehouse Cultural Center in Ruskin, Florida, on Saturday, November 7, 2026. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the New College Alumnae/i Association Inc., fbo The Dr. A. McA. “Mac” Miller Fund, PO Box 10353, Bradenton, Florida, USA 34282, or by contacting info@ncfalums.org/.
Dr. Arthur McA. “Mac” Miller passed away peacefully in his sleep at home on August 28, 2026. Before he passed, he recited the last words of famous authors and concluded with Peter Pan’s last words: “So, onward!”
Mac was born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, December 27, 1937, to Willard D. Miller and Julia (McKinsey) Miller. The grandson of George McA. Miller, founder of Ruskin, Florida, and Ruskin College, Mac valued a truly well-rounded education. He attended Culver Military Academy (1955), Princeton University (1959), and Duke University (1966) where he earned a doctorate in English. Dr. Miller graduated from the Command and General Staff School and was an officer in the U.S. Army and Army Reserves, retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel.
In 1964, Mac became a professor at New College, in Sarasota, FL, where he taught literature and poetry for over 40 years. The founding editor of “New CollAge Magazine” (1964 to 2003), his book Overdrive was published in 2022 by Red Mountain Press. He gave slideshow lectures about the history of Ruskin, Florida, (and wrote a monograph based on interviews of old-timers), led poetry workshops, and worked in his last years to preserve the radical vision of intellectual freedom instantiated at New College.
Above all, Mac was kind. He was full of good cheer and had a sardonic wit. Mac was an excellent cook, small motor mechanic and child wrangler. He enjoyed boating on the Ruskin Inlet and Little Manatee River. He loved opera as much as Elvis. He loved silly toys, like drinking birds, and real toys, like Mateo the dog. Mac’s former students attribute all their good looks and success to his wise counsel.
He was predeceased by his parents; his first wife, MaryAnn (Fulmer) Miller; and two of his sons, Milton and Auden. He is survived by his wife, Dr. Melanie Hubbard; his former wife, Carol Mahler; his children, Eloise, Nathan, Claire, Kathleen (Skyler) and Ky; his grandchildren, David Cook, Anna Cooley (Tyler), Rowan Stahl, Avery Stahl; and his great granddaughter, Ayla Cooley.
A Celebration of Life will be held from 2-5 p.m. at the Firehouse Cultural Center in Ruskin, Florida, on Saturday, November 7, 2026. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the New College Alumnae/i Association Inc., fbo The Dr. A. McA. “Mac” Miller Fund, PO Box 10353, Bradenton, Florida, USA 34282, or by contacting info@ncfalums.org/.