Virginia Hirshberg Miller

For decades any telemarketer who tried their hand at reaching Virginia (Ginny) Miller would be told solemnly that she had died and must immediately be taken off their list. In the early morning of Friday, June 21st, at age 89.99, this favorite fib of Virginia’s became reality. With her son, daughter, and granddaughter by her side, Virginia died in hospice in Amherst, MA, floating on the love of friends and family, both living and deceased. Virginia’s career as a teacher and professor of education was fundamental. She began teaching at the New Lincoln School, mentored by Joan McDonald Miller who became her friend and then sister in-law. Virginia worked at Bank Street College of Education for 35 years, where she was a treasured mentor, colleague and friend. Virginia had a deep understanding of progressive education and was a staunch and passionate advocate for children, families, and teachers. Her elementary school teaching and psychoanalytic background along with her feisty and playful personality made her an indelible member of the graduate faculty where she assumed various roles including Program Director of the Reading and Literacy program, Fieldwork Advisor, and Instructor. Virginia held three masters degrees: Elementary Education and Special Education (Bank Street), and School Psychology (NYU). Virginia’s humor, irreverence and sharp intellect combined in ways that made her teaching uniquely engaging. She loved being an advisor, and long after teaching her last class to graduate students, she continued to delight in advising (as long as students didn’t ask her to come to their classrooms in the early morning). Virginia was the eldest of three children and was delighted by her siblings’ children and their families. She was a devoted aunt to Marc, Catherine, Paul, and Bruno Grandsard, Eliotte Hirshberg, and Adam Barton. She was a pillar of reliable, unconditional love and wisdom on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. Virginia was a collector of treasures from the sea and a creator of handbuilt, explorative ceramics, using a wide array of everyday objects to imprint texture and movement in her work. Virginia took great pleasure in: many books, chocolate, long phone calls, New Yorker cartoons, coffee, music, French, and butter (unsalted). Towards the end of her life a question she often asked: “are you enjoying it?” referred to any range of “its” – joys to be divined from within oneself and to be received from people and places. Virginia’s vivacious laughter was her signature and it continues to reverberate. Virginia’s life was enriched by extraordinary friendships. She was predeceased by many dear friends including Margie Perry, Maggie McKinnickinnick, Peggy Kirby, Sue Ribner and Margot Rubin. She relished 88 years of friendship with Ellen Anthonisen. Virginia’s sister, Ellen Grandsard, daughter, Emily Eliot Miller, son, Ivan T. Miller, granddaughter, Lila Grey Miller, and all who loved her look forward to communing with her in the ocean. In lieu of flowers, please contribute to the Center for Reproductive Justice or Lily House Hospice in Wellfleet, Massachusetts. https://www.thelilyhouse.org/.