Charles Joseph Miller

There is family lore that says our grandmother hired the local music teacher to give young Charlie piano lessons only so she could have at least one hour of peace a week. He was that child. He was also, as it turned out, a naturally gifted musician.

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Charles Joseph Miller, his final Irish exit, on May 28, 2026. He died peacefully and with his family.

He was born June 18, 1938 to Charles Joseph and Margaret Mary (McDevitt), surrounded by his three siblings and cousins growing up. He lived the majority of his life in Seaside Park only recently moving to Holiday City.

Charlie graduated from Toms River South High School and attended Duquesne University. He received his master's degree from Seton Hall University.

In 1960 he enlisted in the military as an Army Reservist. By 1988, he was honored with the prestigious Meritorious Service Medal. He would eventually retire in 1980 with the rank of Corporal. It was an honor for him to do the music for Seaside Park's Memorial Day Services for many years.

Charlie worked for the Toms River School District for 30 years. He was the chorus teacher and musical director for Intermediate North. He delighted and entertained both his colleagues and students with his slightly wicked humor and sense of mischief. He ended his career in education with teaching elementary students string instruments.

When he retired from teaching he opened up Charlie's Homemade Ice Cream in 1984, famous for Thursday night entertainment and the best ice cream in town. His young employees loved him, just as his students had, and would keep in touch even after they married and had children of their own, often bringing them to the ice cream parlor for cones and a conversation with Charlie. He always made lasting and long friendships.

He was an avid traveler, traversing the world from Egypt to Austria, from Africa to Italy, just to name a few. He had an insatiable curiousity about other's cultures and loved learning from them. One of his fondest trips was with his beloved sisters, Mary K. and Peggy and their husbands, to visit Ireland.

Charlie's love for music led him to NYC where he had an apartment in the famed Ansonia Hotel. There he would learn opera and sing at the Amato Opera House right across from the infamous CBGB's. He would also go on to start a small business helping Broadway hopefuls with their auditions.

Charlie's first audience were parishioners at church where he would play the organ or the piano and, at times, both instruments at the same time. He felt deeply comfortable in the religious house and reveled over the hallowed acoustics. He played and sang for many churches that dotted the Jersey Shore, from St. Catharine of Siena and lastly with St. Simon's by the Sea.

Charlie is predeceased by his loving parents, his sister, Mary K. McGill (Ray) and his brother, James Miller. He is survived by his sister, Margaret (Peggy) Cosgrove, his cousins, David Miller and Colleen McDevitt, his nieces Mary Bethe McGill and her children Scarlet and Gannon Coleman, Maureen Misetic and her husband Mike and their children Matthew and Maggie and his nephew Gordon McGill and his children Kady and Brenna. He also leaves behind many loved friends and family, near and far. Lastly, left to mourn his absence are two best friends, Li and Bob.

A celebration of Life Memorial will be held on June 10th at Anderson & Campbell Funeral Home, 703 Main Street, Toms River from 4:00pm - 7:00pm

A funeral mass will be held at St. Catharine of Siena, 50 E. Street, Seaside Park on June 11th beginning at 10:00am.

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