Lamar Miller, University of Florida professor of environmental engineering sciences, passed away on January 1, 2017. He was 81.
Miller spent 13 years at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency where he was science advisor to the Assistant Administrator for Enforcement and Director of Hazardous Waste Enforcement in Washington, D.C. He joined the faculty at UF as a professor in the Department of Environmental Engineering Sciences (EES) in 1983, specializing in hazardous and solid waste management, ultimate disposal systems, groundwater restoration and treatment, and regulatory management until his retirement in 1996.
“Dr. Miller was hired to reinvigorate UF’s solid and hazardous waste program in environmental engineering,” said UF professor Tim Townsend, who was one of Miller’s PhD students. “Many of his former students continue to be leaders in this discipline around the world.”
Townsend said Miller is well known for his work on the subject of bioreactor landfills, and that the research he established with Alachua County Public Works continues to this day to support graduate students at UF.
“By my recollection, he was an outspoken individual who had little tolerance for ‘nonsense’ and excuses. It was due to these qualities that students and faculty alike have great admiration and respect for him,” said Kirk Hatfield, Director, UF Engineering School of Sustainable Infrastructure & Environment.
Miller earned his B.S. in chemistry from Mississippi College, and his masters and Ph.D. from Department of Chemistry at UF. He holds three patents in the chemical process industry.
“Professor Miller had an enormous influence on EES, and has remained very supportive of the department since his retirement,” said C.Y. Wu, Chair of the UF Department of Environmental Engineering Sciences. “We have been so sad about his passing and will miss him a lot.”
The family has asked that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the University of Florida Lamar and Juanita Miller Solid Waste Scholarship Endowment.