Ernest Milian

MILIAN, Ernest, beloved father, passed away on January 24, 2022 at the age of 93. He was born in Tampa on September 20, 1928 and grew up in the Ybor City area of Tampa, where he had many interesting part time jobs, including sewing hems on pants at a tailor’s shop and helping his Uncle Ramon at his newspaper. Ernest graduated from Jefferson High School; he served four years in the United States Air Force and was stationed in England, Indianapolis and Bryan, Texas. After leaving the Air Force, Ernest received a BA in Elementary Education from the University of Tampa and taught in several schools in Hillsborough County, beginning his teaching career at Mango Elementary and also including Bryan Plant City Elementary, Lake Magdalene Elementary, Claywell Elementary and Twin Lakes Elementary. In addition to teaching 4th and 5th grade, he spent part of his career as a Curriculum Specialist. He was also part of a team of educators who visited several Migrant Education Programs in the US, bringing back ideas for the Migrant Education Program in Hillsborough County. In the early 70s, Ernest spent summers at Western Carolina University in Cullowhee, North Carolina working on his masters, which he received on August 20, 1971.

Among his many interests, Ernest enjoyed fishing, playing golf, coaching Little League Baseball, playing poker at home with friends as well as at the Hard Rock, and more recently, online. He often played poker with his great-grandchildren, assuring that the next generation would carry on the tradition. He also loved cruising.

Ernest was preceded in death by his parents, Cristina Tomas and Ernesto Milian and his great-grandson Mathieu Novo, as well as an aunt and many uncles and cousins. He is survived by his wife, Nancy Milian; his four children, Christina Hynes and spouse Thomas, Gilda Blohm and spouse Alan, Denise Milian, and Ernest Milian III and spouse Jessica, (their mother Camelia Milian, deceased); eight grandchildren, Timothy Hynes, Alexis Balles, Kristina Grant, Nicholaus Novo, Ryan Novo, Michele Novo, Kara Wainwright and Tiffany Milian; 9 great-grandchildren, Jayda, Dominic, Brielle, Zachery, Nicholaus, Jr., Gabriel, Trinity, Joseph and Alesia; 2 great great-grandchildren, Grayson and Addalyn; his sister Olga Menes and spouse Mike; niece Cynthia Gonzalez and children, niece Sylvia Clark and children, and nephew Mike Menes, Jr. and children; aunt Dalia Valdez and children and many cousins.

Visitation is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. on Monday, January 31, 2022 at Blount and Curry Funeral Home, 3207 W. Bearss Ave, Tampa, FL 33618, followed by a service at 11:00. Interment will be at Rose Hill Cemetery following the service. Flowers are acceptable, as well as donations to the Diabetes Foundation, the Heart Foundation or the Kidney Foundation.