It was announced late last week that a very popular graduate of Washington College had died suddenly while living in Peru earlier in the month.
Chris Miller, class of 2014, led an extraordinary life of service both on campus, and in the greater Chestertown community, for causes and issues he strongly cared about.
A native of Middletown, Maryland, Miller was a double major in biology and Hispanic Studies who studied in Peru his sophomore year and returned over a subsequent winter break for an internship working with HIV/AIDS patients in a regional hospital there.
In Chestertown, he volunteered at Chester River Hospital through the WC-Latino Community Volunteer Program, helping Spanish-speaking patients feel more at ease and helping them navigate their health care. On campus, Chris was a Washington Fund Scholar and a member of the Cater Society, worked for the Alumni Relations office, and served as president of three organizations: Health Occupation Students of America, Encouraging Respect of Sexuality (EROS), and the Hispanic honor society Sigma Delta Pi.
Miller was expected to return to the United States to start graduate school at Johns Hopkins Universtiy and ultimately start a career in medicine.
While friends have been devastated by the news of Chris Miller’s passing, they were able to raise the $15,000 needed to have his body returned to the United States in only eight hours using a social media fundraiser.
Chris Miller’s family and friends plan to remember and celebrate his life on Sunday, June 28, at:
Frederick Elks Lodge 684
289 Willowdale Dr.
Frederick, MD 21702
Chris’s family will receive visitors starting at 12 noon. The service will begin at 2 pm.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you make a donation to a special fund that is being created at Washington College in Chris’s name.
Kelly Bottomley says
Having been fortunate enough to help with the Washington College students in the volunteer program for the Spanish speaking communities, I was honored to not only meet this young man, but get to know his heart and passion for helping others. A smile on his face was a given while he was volunteering at our hospital in Chetsertown and unique unquenchable energy to help others never faded. Many student volunteers cross my path and I consider myself fortunate for what each bring into our building to help patients and their families. However, Chris was unique and I remember distinctly what he said to me on his last day of volunteering at our facility,”I want to do more, give more and be more”. What a legacy this young man leaves, may we all be more, do more and give more to our communities to honor his life !
Kelly Bottomley
Carl Crowe says
The Chris Miller ’14 fund has now been established at Washington College. This fund, administered by the Modern Foreign Languages Department, will be used to help students with some of the costs associated with study abroad. Chris had such a passion for travel, so this seemed like the best way to keep his legacy alive here at the College. Those wishing to donate can send memorial gifts to the Chris Miller ’14 fund, Washington College, Office of Advancement, 300 Washington Avenue, Chestertown, MD 21620 or go on line at http:/www.washcoll.edu/giving/
For those choosing to make a gift on line, enter the gift in the “in memory of” section and put down Chris Miller’s name.