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Obituary (CA): Ernest Daniel Miller Jr. '92

Posted on 09/28/2018

Ernest Daniel Miller Jr.  (September 3, 1967 - September 21, 2018)

Ernest Daniel Miller, Jr., born on September 3, 1967 in Montebello, California, to Carolyn Miller, passed away at age 51 on September 21, 2018. Ernest (or Ernie, as many knew him) had a thirst for knowledge and compassion for people that enriched and touched many lives. He was a student at heart and a natural teacher who always shared the wealth of knowledge he had accumulated over his too-short life. Ernest studied electronics at Don Bosco Technical Institute, and was inquisitive from an early age. That curiosity earned him a spot at the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD. While the Academy encouraged him to become an engineer, Ernest instead graduated with a Bachelor of Science in History and Geography. His fascination with history, and passion for a good debate, led him to Yale, where he obtained a law degree. The unique combination of History, Law, and love for people created endless opportunities for him that allowed Ernest to explore, learn, and grow. But eventually, he found his true home and passion as a culinary artist in the food industry. Ernest used his knowledge to explore the culture of food and ignite the creativity of others as he taught and wrote the curriculum for beer and wine at Le Cordon Bleu in Pasadena, CA. He also assisted in leading the Slow Food movement in Los Angeles and restarted the Master Food Preserver program in Los Angeles. For the past three years, he was the master of ceremonies in the Culinary Arts Building at the Orange County Fair. Ernest was also a curator of culinary education for the National Food and Beverage Foundation. He often taught culinary classes at the Huntington Library and the Workman and Temple Family Homestead Museum, to name just some of his regular venues. He most recently joined Coast Packing as their corporate chef, becoming an advocate for beef tallow and lard in cooking. For those who knew Ernie, he left behind a legacy of inspiring people around food, history and culture, and challenging them to further what he taught them. Ernest was the beloved husband of Debbie Johnson-Miller, a mathematician and teacher who shared his love and thirst for knowledge. Ernest is survived by Debbie, his brother Doug Miller, and mother Carolyn Miller. He was deeply loved by his friends and family and will truly be missed. Friends and family can pay their respects at the visitation on Monday, October 1, 2018 from 12:30pm to 4:00pm at Rose Hills Mortuary Visitation Center located at 3888 Workman Mill Rd., Whittier, CA 90601.

Published in the Los Angeles Times from Sept. 28 to Sept. 29, 2018