Bernard Francis Miller

It is with profound sadness that the family announces the passing of Bernie Miller. He passed away peacefully on January 3, 2015 with his family by his side.

A senior aviation executive, Bernie played important roles in the development of Canadian air transportation over a fifty year period. He travelled the world with his beautiful wife, raised an accomplished and loving family, and contributed to his community. Notably, he was the chief negotiator in the transfer of the Halifax International Airport from the Federal government to community control in 2000.

Born at the Halifax Infirmary on February 25, 1935, he was the eldest son of Dr. Bernard F. Miller and Mary Barbara (Currie) Miller. Bernie was educated at St. Thomas Aquinas School and Saint Mary’s College High School in Halifax. At the close of World War II, his family moved to Great Crosby, Lancashire, England. He returned to Halifax in November 1948. He started his academic career in Pre-Med at St. Francis Xavier, but switched to Dalhousie University and earned a Bachelor of Commerce. He held a BA in Economics and Political Science from Concordia University and a Masters of Science in Industrial Relations and Organizational Behaviour from Cornell University, Ithaca NY. He served several years in the Royal Canadian Ordnance Corps and held the rank of Second Lieutenant.

He married Susan MacLennan of Pictou, N.S. on July 28, 1960. They had four wonderful children all of whom he greatly loved and admired. Together with his wife, Bernie considered his family to be his raison d’etre and his greatest joy in life. He was most proud of all of his large extended family and their many achievements. Bernie was actively involved in scouting and was a CAHA certified minor hockey coach. Summers were spent at the Miller/MacLennan family cottages in Bayview, Pictou County.

In May 1957, he joined Trans Canada Air Lines, now Air Canada, as a Passenger Agent. He enjoyed 34 years with the airline in Halifax, Montreal, Toronto and NY, rising through the ranks to hold senior executive positions: Senior Director, Labour Relations and Chief Labour Negotiator; Vice President, Personnel; Vice President, Atlantic Canada Region; Vice President Cargo and Chief Cargo Executive; and finally Vice President, In-Flight Service. Bernie retired from Air Canada in May 1991.

Once retired, Bernie joined Dalhousie University’s Advanced Management Centre. He was appointed an Associate Professor in Continuing Education. In 1995 he joined St. Mary’s University as Adjunct Professor of Management, teaching Industrial Relations. He was an adjunct Professor in the Aviation MBA program at Concordia University and served on the Advisory Board of the McGill University Industrial Relations Centre.

Bernie also served on the Halifax Industrial Commission. He was the Chair overseeing the development of the Halifax Business Parks at Bayers Lake. He was one of the founding Directors of the Halifax International Airport Authority and in April 1996 was elected its Chair. He led the negotiations with Transport Canada that resulted in the airport’s transfer to the Halifax community and was for the first year its CEO. He was with the authority that built the master plan which has won many awards for overall excellence world wide. Following his retirement from HIAA, the Board and staff named the rotunda of the north end commuter terminal “THE BERNARD F. MILLER ROTUNDA”. On the national airport scene, he was a director of the Canadian Airports Council.

Bernie was on the Board of the Nova Scotia International Air Show serving as its Chair for six years. He was a member of the Board of the Atlantic Canada Aviation Museum and a member of the Air Canada Pionairs. He served two terms as its Nova Scotia Director. He was a founding Director of the Nova Scotia Chapter of the Canadian Association of Retired People. He was a long time member of the Pictou Golf Club, a past member of the Halifax Curling Club, and a Life Member of the Royal Nova Scotia Yacht Squadron.

Bernie served on hospital foundations including the Victoria General Hospital as Vice Chair. He was a founding member of the QEII Health Sciences Centre Foundation and remained an Honourary Trustee of the foundation until his death. A devout Catholic, he was a life long parishioner of Saint Thomas Aquinas Church. He was a Chair for Our Lady of Schools. In recognition of his contribution to the community he was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal in February 2013.

He is survived by his wife Susan (MacLennan), children: Carole-Ann Miller, Joanne Miller (Christopher Shore), Bernard Francis III Miller (Helen MacDonnell), Dr. Robert A Miller (Dr. Fiona McGrath); eight grandchildren: Emily Miller, Alex Miller, Ellen Shore, Katherine Shore, Joseph Shore, Caitlin Miller, Jeremiah Miller, and Margaret Miller; brothers Norman (Sheila Snow) and Jonathan (Pamela Curry); sister: Meredith Ann Miller-Burns (Robert Burns), Sober Island; nephews: Jason Miller, Christopher Miller, Matthew Russell, Sault Sainte Marie; niece: Colleen Miller, Calgary.

He was predeceased by his parents Dr. Bernard F. Miller Sr. and Mary Barbara Currie and his grandparents Dr. Alex W. Miller and Margaret Emma (Doyle) Miller, New Waterford and Norman A. Currie and Alice G. (Davenport) Currie of Lilac St., Hfx. He was a seventh generation descendant of Alexander Miller, one of the first settlers of the Township of Truro. On his mother’s side he was a descendant of both John Alden and Myles Standish, Mayflower passengers, and founders of the Plymouth Colony at Cape Cod.

Visitation will be held at J.A. Snows Funeral Home, 339 Lacewood Drive, on Friday, January 9 from 2-4 and 6-8 pm and funeral services will be at St. Thomas Aquinas Church on Oxford Street on Saturday, January 10 at 11:00 am. Burial ceremony will be at Seaview Cemetery, Pictou, on Sunday, January 11.

Donations in his memory may be made to the Christian Children’s Fund of Canada, the Queen Elizabeth II Health Sciences Foundation, Neptune Theatre, or any charity of choice.

The Miller family would like to convey their sincerest gratitude to John Myrden as well as the skilled and dedicated doctors, nurses and staff of the Nephrology Centre for their excellent care.