Frederick Vincent Miller, 54, was born in Columbus, Ohio, the second of Francis and Mary Miller's three children. Francis was a gifted musician who played the organ at the local Catholic Church and gave private piano lessons in the Millers' home. Mary's job in a typing pool was the family's primary source of income.
Frederick inherited his father's musical talents but not his desire. Nevertheless, Francis pushed his son hard for perfection, making Frederick practice at least three hours per day. Frederick's father felt that modern music was trash, and Frederick was forbidden to play any music written after 1900.
When he was 13, Frederick began defying his father and refusing to practice. He spent as much time as possible in the school library studying science and maintained a high G.P.A. throughout high school.
He matriculated into Ohio State University, pursuing a Bachelor of Education degree, specializing in Science and Mathematics. He graduated Magna Cum Laude.
During his senior year of college, Frederick met Caroline Portfield, a first-year OSU student studying creative writing. The two dated on and off until Frederick graduated, when the couple became exclusive.
Frederick taught in the Columbus public school system for the next three years. After Caroline graduated, the couple moved to Oxford, where Caroline pursued an advanced degree in creative writing at Ole Miss. The couple married that November.
Frederick was hired in the science department at Yoknapatawpha High School, where he was a no-nonsense biology teacher, accepting nothing less than the best efforts of his students. He was not known for his sense of humor. When his daughter began to show real talent in competitive archery, Frederick volunteered to be the school's archery team's assistant coach.
His years of teaching diminished his passion for science somewhat, but a passion for music emerged to take its place.
Ten years ago, while listening to the Faith and Glory Community Church choir butcher an uninspiring, modern arrangement of a traditional hymn, Frederick resolved to bring tradition back to church music. He offered to help out the choir by providing classical vocal training for choir members and conducting whenever the choir director had to be away.
Choir director Nathaniel Huggins gratefully accepted, and Frederick became the volunteer assistant choir director. As a perfectionist, his rehearsals were typically grueling. Frederick regularly pushed for the choir to sing traditional church music.
At home, Frederick expected everything to be neat and orderly at all times and was irritated when anything was out of place. He expected a device-free family dinner at 5:15 each evening. Caroline often joked that Frederick missed his calling as a drill instructor.
He and Caroline have one child, Elizabeth, who is 17 years old and a student at Yoknapatawpha High School.
