By Anne Levin

Bernard “Bernie” Miller, who died Saturday, August 24 at the age of 95, served as mayor of Princeton Township and later on the consolidated Princeton Council. Those who worked alongside him in municipal government remember him as a dedicated public servant and mentor.

Mayor Mark Freda began Monday night’s Council meeting with a moment of silence in Miller’s honor. “He served this community in so many different aspects so well, for so many years,” Freda said before calling for the tribute. On Tuesday morning, he added in an email, “I admired Bernie and truly enjoyed working and talking with him. He did a lot for our community.”

Miller was first elected to the former Township Committee in 2002 before serving as deputy mayor, and then mayor. He was the first Council president when the Township Committee and Borough Council were consolidated in 2013, and remained on Council until 2017. He also served on several boards and commissions related to affordable housing, consolidation, and other issues.

“Bernie was a wise and generous mentor to me and many others,” said Liz Lempert, who served with Miller on the Township Committee before becoming the first mayor of the consolidated Princeton. “When he was mayor of Princeton Township, he fostered a supportive, collaborative culture within the Township Committee, something I’m grateful to have benefited and learned from.”

Referring to Miller’s career as an aeronautical engineer for RCA Laboratories and Lockheed Martin, Lempert continued, “He was brilliant – he really was a rocket scientist! But super humble. And he led an incredible life, including decades of service to the Princeton community, even after his retirement from the Princeton Council. I feel enormously lucky to have been his colleague and friend.”

As mayor of the former Township from 2011 through 2012, Chad Goerner found Miller a challenging act to follow.

“Bernie Miller preceded me as mayor in the Township, and he was perhaps the ultimate example of a tireless public servant,” Goerner said. “He always showed up with purpose, and was very goal-driven.  His determination led to the completion of a myriad of projects and initiatives that ultimately made Princeton a better place.  He was a great partner in achieving the successful consolidation of the Borough and the Township, and contributed an immense amount of time and effort to our successful endeavor.”

In an article by this writer in Princeton Magazine 11 years ago, Miller’s son Buddy Miller, a well-known country singer and guitarist, was asked what he thought of his father’s plan to run for reelection to Council at age 84. “My Dad is something else,” he said. “Still out there, causing trouble.”