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Former Breckenridge resident Jeffrey ‘Hobart’ Miller dies in New Zealand

Jeffrey David Miller, 42, of Tata Beach, died unexpectedly March 22.

Jeff, known by many as “Hobart,” was born Jan. 10, 1968, in Westbrook, Maine, and spent his childhood years in Maine.

Jeff graduated from Goffstown High School in New Hampshire in 1986. He spent a year at Maine Maritime Academy in Castine, Maiane, before heading west to Colorado to pursue his love of skiing, fishing and adventure. He was employed by the Town of Breckenridge for many years. He married Melanie Wright in 1998 in New Zealand, Melanie’s native country. Jeff and Mel shared their life and love of adventure together for many years in Colorado, and began a family with the birth of their daughter, Charlotte in 2003. In 2006, Jeff, Mel and Charlotte moved to New Zealand to begin a new adventure “Down Under.”



“Hobart” was blessed with a keen sense of humor, and his mischievous yet harmless escapades were always entertaining to family and friends. His kind and gentle nature will be so missed by all who knew Jeff.

Jeff is survived by his wife, Melanie and daughter, Charlotte of Tata Beach; his parents, David and Deborah Miller of East Pond, Maine, and Estero, Fla.; his sister, Lisa, niece Zoe, and brother-in-law Guy Bertsch of Portland; two grandmothers, Margaret Gildart of Westbrook, Maine, and Naples, Fla., and Elizabeth Miller of Summerville, S.C.; as well as many aunts, uncles, cousins and friends throughout New England, Colorado and New Zealand.



A celebration of Jeff’s life will take place at Carter Park in Breckenridge at 5 p.m. Tuesday, April 13 and at a later date in Maine. Funeral arrangements were also made in Tata Beach, New Zealand.

If anyone wishes to make an expression of remembrance in Jeff’s name, the family suggests a donation to the East Pond Association, c/o Mr. David Jackson, Treasurer, 83 Loon Lane, Smithfield, ME 04978, or visit http://www.eastpond.org, in recognition of the love and respect Jeff had for the outdoors.

Donations may also be mailed to an education fund being established for Charlotte to help her embark on her own adventures someday like her daddy did. Contributions to this fund may be sent to Lisa Miller Bertsch, 18 Quiet Lane, Portland, ME 04103.


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