DAVID H. MILLER, MD
1945-2019
David Howard Miller, MD died June 1, 2019 after a life of selfless service, adventure, and idealism. He was born August 30, 1945 in Dallas, Texas to parents, Rev. J. Ivey Miller and Winne D. Marshall. The family accepted a missionary post in Santiago, Chile from 1946 to 1954, where David’s siblings, Marsha, Jimmy, and Susan were born. David always recalled his boyhood in
South America with pleasure, including an unexpected visit from heavyweight boxing champ Joe Louis, multiple earthquakes, and learning Spanish, which he continued to speak with his father for the rest of his life. A graduate of Jefferson High School in San Antonio, he won an unlikely victory as student body president (“Over the Wave with Dave”) and acquired a taste for leadership.
David attended Baylor University and Baylor
College of Medicine, where he studied under two of his mentors, Drs. Denton Cooley and Michael DeBakey. While in medical school, he worked at the research library, where he used his height to help a graduate student, Sally Anne Eisen, to get books off the top shelves. They were married in 1971 and he never stopped writing her love poems throughout 48 years of marriage. They raised two children, Salisha and Breisen, to whom David gave his time, imparted his wisdom, and instilled his deep love of adventures at home and abroad.
David volunteered for the US Army Medical Corps in Giessen, West Germany from 1972 to 1974 and considered it a great honor to serve his country. He was selected Chief Resident during his final year of residency at Ben Taub Hospital in 1976. In private practice for 40 years in the Texas Medical Center, David loved his patients immensely and believed deeply in both the science and art of medicine. With his beloved nurse, Harriett Smith, RN, he took pride in taking his time with patients in order to truly listen, engage, and laugh with those he cared for. He was featured in the Houston Chronicle on August 6, 1995 in an article (“White Coat Blues”) depicting the plight of physicians in the era of managed care.
David was a prolific storyteller, amateur astronomer, published poet and essayist, gardener of some acclaim, and a frequent wearer of deerstalker caps. Reading the Sherlock Holmes stories of
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle set him on his path to medicine in his youth, but his love of mystery novels only expanded. He frequented local bookshop Murder by the Book and was proud to have been made into a fictional character by writer Randy Wayne White in his novel, Hunter Moon.
David developed a love of music from his mother. He sang in the parish choir at Christ Church Cathedral and served on the board of the Houston Chamber Choir.
In letters, emails, and notes to his family, David’s idealism was frequently illuminated. “I dream in music, stories, and adventures. I no longer believe I can save the whole world, but isn’t it nice to save some of it?”
A Shiva will be held at the Czech Center Museum Houston, 4920 San Jacinto, 77004, June 25 at 6:30 pm. A funeral service will be held at Christ Church Cathedral, 1117 Texas Ave, 77002 on June 29, at 10 am. Reception to follow. Colorful clothing and deerstalker caps are welcome. Please share your stories of David with us by emailing: davidmillerstories@gmail.com. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the David H Miller, MD Universal Library Foundation (P.O. Box 20331, Houston, TX 77225), The Beacon (1212 Prairie St, Houston, TX 77002), or the Houston Chamber Choir (1117 Texas Avenue, Houston, TX 77002).