Bernard P. Miller, a former Princeton Township mayor and councilman, is citizen Miller these days, having left public life when his term on the governing body ended in January.
But Miller found himself at the center of attention once more on April 27 at an Arbor Day ceremony outside the Monument Hall municipal building, where a Princeton Elm tree had been planted in his honor.
Delivering his remarks, he could look out to see his wife, Ruth, and longtime friends Marvin and Ingrid Reed joining others at a gathering in the late morning.
“You couldn’t get half these people out here for a current council member,” Councilman Tim Quinn joked before the ceremony began.
Sharon Ainsworth, of the municipal Shade Tree Commission, a board that Miller was a liaison to during his time in office, thanked the attendees for coming “to honor this great fellow.”
“It almost tears me up, really,” Ainsworth said. “He’s been such a fantastic asset to the Shade Tree Commission and helping to support our urban forest … ”
When it came time for him to speak, Miller said he often thinks about what makes Princeton “great.” It’s not the history, the downtown or the “great elected officials,” but rather the volunteers who serve the community, he said.
“The volunteers make this town what it is,” he said.
Miller credited the Shade Tree Commission for its work and said he was honored with the recognition.
Miller, 89, was elected in 2002 to serve on on the Princeton Township Committee. During his time on the committee he served a stint as mayor. In 2012, he was elected to be a part of the first council for the consolidated Princeton. Miller did not seek re-election in 2017.
“Bernie’s done so many things, it’s hard to explain them,” Ingrid Reed said after the ceremony. “It’s nice to have something real you can point to and say, ‘That’s Bernie Miller’s tree,’ because he was such a good guy for Princeton.”
Miller, she said, was like her husband in that both men got into elected office “rather late in life.”
Miller remains involved with the town by sitting on an economic development committee Mayor Liz Lempert created. He is also managing the campaign of Democrat Eve Niedergang, who is running for council.
In her comments, Lempert said Miller set “an example of how to be a public servant.”
“I just think this is a beautiful event,” Councilman Lance Liverman said afterward.