The voice of De Anza since 1967.

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The voice of De Anza since 1967.

La Voz News

The voice of De Anza since 1967.

La Voz News

    Beloved English instructor Jean Miller, 63, passes

    The first day of classes at De Anza College began with tragedy when English instructor Jean Miller passed away from complications associated with cancer on Sept. 22.

    News of her death came as De Anza President Brian Murphy announced it to the faculty in an e-mail.

    During her 18 years at De Anza, Miller made a major impact on the academic and communal experiences of faculty and students alike. Her colleagues describe her as a friend they could go to for help with just about anything.

    “Jean was the best friend anyone could ever ask for,” said Lisa Kokin, an artist and good friend of Miller. “I miss her very much, but I also feel her spirit around me.”

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    Along with being a good friend to many, Miller was seen as a mentor to her students and co-workers. She was known to be very helpful to other staff members at the college, said Gregory Anderson, director of the Readiness Center.

    “Everything she did was focused on improving the success of students whose backgrounds have not prepared them for post secondary education,” said Anderson.

    Prior to her illness, Miller was an instructor at the English Writing Readiness Lab at De Anza where she worked to help struggling students succeed in their classes. She started the First Year Experience program to better prepare new college students for the challenges they might face.

    As an instructor, Miller was known for her dedication to helping students. She often spent long hours tutoring some who were not even enrolled in her classes.

    Miller spent much of her time on helping students get through college, especially those who were struggling because they didn’t receive adequate preparation in high school.

    Beyond her involvement in education, Miller was politically active at De Anza, focusing much of her efforts on fighting for the rights of the underprivileged.

    “From her very first moments at De Anza, Jean was always a supporter of equality, justice and compassion,” said De Anza College President Brian Murphy.

    Miller was born and raised in Denver. After graduating from high school, she began a 20-year journey that included taking part in a variety of odd jobs, including selling office supplies, writing legal briefs, modeling for students at art schools, selling magazine subscriptions and writing computer code.

    Also during those 20 years, she participated in a number of social movements, such as the Civil Rights Movement, Anti-War Movement, Women’s Movement and Gay Rights Movement.

    Around the time her son turned 12, she went back to school, were she received a bachelor’s degree from New College of California and a master’s degree in creative writing from San Francisco State University. She began teaching English at De Anza in fall quarter, 1989.

    She is survived by Renee La Farge, her partner of 36 years, her son David, along with her granddaughter Sofia, and her sister.

    There is a memorial planned for Nov. 6 in the Hinson Campus Center from 3:30-5 p.m., with a gathering to follow shortly afterward for friends and family.

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