I’m Joshua’s dad, Daniel Miller. As I look around this room filled with friendly faces, I’m reminded of how Joshua had a way of bringing people together. He just had that kind of spirit about him – warm, engaging, a real storyteller.
You know, Josh was one of those kids who kept you on your toes from the moment he came into this world. Innovative, adventurous, always eager to take on a new challenge. When he was barely out of diapers, he was already tinkering with the remote controls, trying to figure out how they worked. That insatiable curiosity never left him.
As he grew up, Joshua became a true innovator and leader, especially in technology. But he also had this incredible zest for the outdoors – rock climbing, exploring nature’s wonders. He packed his life as full as he possibly could, driven by this urge to learn, create, and explore everything the world had to offer.
I’ll never forget our family trip to Europe when Joshua got to climb in the Alps for the first time. The glow on his face…he was in pure awe and bliss being out there on those legendary peaks. That’s one of my most cherished memories – just seeing the joy and adventure he experienced.
Joshua lived by the principles of creativity, perseverance, and striving to make a positive impact. Even when facing adversity, he’d handle it with this remarkable calm presence, always looking for solutions, inspiring everyone around him. His thoughtfulness, warmth and ability to uplift others truly set him apart.
And did he ever make an impact in his short 25 years! From developing an app to help over a million people with mental health, to being recognized as a rising star in the tech world, to his advocacy for the environment…he packed more into his life than most people could hope to achieve in twice that timespan.
We’ll forever miss his engaging personality, his playful spirit, his drive to innovate. But we can also take solace knowing his light will go on shining – through the incredible contributions he made, through the values he embodied, through the adventures he shared with us all.
I want to thank every one of you for being here today to celebrate the beautiful life of my son, Joshua. He brought people together like no other, from the climbing community to the tech world and beyond. We’ll carry his spirit forward by living with the same sense of curiosity, adventure and desire to have a positive impact that Joshua embodied every single day. Thank you.