Meet Our Phil

Philippus Miller III

(1960-2019)

Phil Miller, age 58, passed away on Saturday, August 10, 2019, after suffering a stroke.

Click the buttons below to read the moving words said by family, friends and colleagues during Phil’s memorials

Sage Chapel Memorial Speeches (August 30, 2019) Valley Forge Memorial Speech (November 29, 2019)

Born October 14, 1960 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Phil is survived by his beloved wife of 19 years, Yasamin Miller of Ithaca, NY, stepson Cyrus DiCiccio of Palo Alto, CA, mother Sally Miller of Philadelphia, brother Caleb Miller of San Rafael, CA, in-laws Candy and Ali Sarraf of Ontario, and a loving extended family. Phil is preceded in death by his father, Philippus Miller Jr.

Rarely in life are we graced by the presence of someone loved by everyone they encounter. Phil was this unique individual. Phil was first and foremost a devoted husband to his beloved wife, Yasamin, and their relationship was a joy to anyone privileged to spend time in their company. He cared deeply about his family as well his many close friends, and cherished nothing more than spending time in the company of his loved ones. He buoyed everyone with his warmth, unforgettable laugh, and brilliant humor. He was quick witted, incredibly bright, and accomplished in all endeavors he approached. Phil was described by many in colorful terms that pay homage to the color and vibrancy of his life.

‘A dazzling conversational acrobat’, ‘absolute gentleman’, ‘witty, urbane and supremely intelligent’, ‘Cornellian extraordinaire’ are just a small sampling used to describe him.

Phil was a member of The Society of the Cincinnati, founded in 1783 at the end of the Revolutionary War by the Continental Army officers who fought the war of which George Washington was one of the founders. The Society of the Cincinnati is composed of one hereditary male descendent of each of those original officers. Phil is a fifth-generation grandson of Lt. Col. Caleb North, an original member. The purpose of the society is to perpetuate those early friendships, work to sustain the ideals of those who fought, be of assistance for the less fortunate, and to educate every generation that freedom was obtained at a high price. Phil was proud of this heritage but never high minded or boastful.The values of The Society were the roots to his life of helping others.

Phil attended The Haverford School and sang in the choir at both Haverford and the Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church.It is there where he developed his passion for music, poetry, and history. Mount Desert Island Maine was a special place for Phil, and his dedication to a life of service started there, working summers at the Claremont Hotel as a teen.

Phil was a 1983 graduate of The Cornell University School of Hotel Administration.During his student days he was a member of the Cornell Glee Club, President of the Hangovers A Capella singing group, a member of Delta Chi fraternity, and nominated into the Quill and Dagger Senior Honorary Society, and remained very actively involved with all these organizations over the years.

His early career included roles with Hyatt Hotels, the Related Companies.Phil then moved to Guatemala to become a hotel manager in the Central American Highlands.He then went on to Kenya as operations manager of a safari camp.

In 1993, he returned to Cornell and spent 11 happy years as the Hotel School’s Director of Alumni Affairs and Secretary of its alumni association, the Cornell Hotel Society. Phil assisted the School’s 11,000 students and alumni in all aspects of their careers and encouraged their lifelong interaction with Cornell. He was the Executive Editor of the alumni magazine, supervised the operations of more than 60 alumni chapters worldwide, directed the efforts of hundreds of volunteers, and assisted one of the most active alumni associations in the world in its evolution from a print-based to an online organization. Under Phil’s leadership, the Society’s alumni engagement reached an all-time high.

Phil was also successful in his own entrepreneurial ventures.He founded and managed Philippus Miller III & Associates, a premier executive search firm in the hospitality industry.He was also a founder and a senior leader at Paramount Lodging Advisors, one of the fastest growing hotel real estate advisory firms.

His deep ties to Cornell University and the Hotel School continued until his passing as he was actively involved with students, faculty, and alumnae. Phil served as an Entrepreneur-in-Residence at the Cornell Hotel School’s Pillsbury Institute for Entrepreneurship, and secretary and former president of the Cornell Hotel Society Foundation

Phil was the consummate “Hotelie,” having dedicated most of his life to the university and hospitality industry.

Phil was a vibrant and active man, always ready with a smile, a firm handshake, and a story. He was a relentlessly energetic and positive force of nature. He was always up for an adventure or new experience, especially when it involved good food, travel, and meeting new people. Phil was a loving figure who believed in the greatness of people and their abilities. That he had so many true friendships and touched so many lives is a testament to his genuine interest in helping and serving others. Phil appreciated the nuances of life, always choosing to be persistently and relentlessly positive, radiating good cheer.

He lived by a very consistent code of morality, ethics, and perfect manners, and always set a standard to be admired. He was a gentleman. It takes a special person to elevate the school, build bridges, and nurture such a wide and diverse group of people around the globe.

“Phil” comes from the Greek verb meaning to love and no one embodied this more than Phil. He loved his family, friends, colleagues, and life and will remain forever in our hearts.

Support Phil’s Legacy

Phil Miller ’83 our VIP guest checked out of room 20.

There were a few messages left for him by hotelies:

1. Esther Tang 2. Victoria Amador 3. Etele Von Brasse
4. Susan Boyle-Wood 5. Robert Mack 6. Alex Koch 7. Grant Stansbury
8. Sambhavi “Sam” Vempati 9. Brian Simon 10. Vickie Littler-Kozhushchenko