A.C. Miller of West Tisbury died at his home near Lambert’s Cove on Thursday, July 22. He was 61 and died just before sunset, surrounded by his loving wife June, their Westie Marley, family and friends.

Born in 1948 to Loretta Hunsberger and Clifford Eugene Miller in Clay Center, Kansas, A.C. (his formal name, though he was also known as Ace) lived a loving life that embraced family, business, world events, politics and a passion for the present moment. He will be greatly missed and remembered as a loving and steadfast inspiration to all who were fortunate to know him.

After growing up in Kansas and Colorado, A.C. received a degree in political science from Southern Colorado State College in 1970 and earned a master’s degree in telecommunications from the University of Colorado in 1973. He subsequently served in the Peace Corps in Kabul, Afghanistan from 1977 to 1979 as a teacher of computer science and English. His service in Afghanistan established a lifelong passion for social justice, democracy and politics.

After 10 years working for the U.S. Department of Commerce and then as a telecommunications consultant in Boulder, Colo., A.C. relocated to Falls Church, Va., where he worked for American Mobile Systems before forming Spectrum Resources. With savvy vision and good timing under his leadership, he and his partners succeeded in business, capitalizing on the exploding radio and telecommunications industry by obtaining hundreds of radio spectrum licenses throughout the U.S. which later contributed to the foundation of the national cell ular phone system. Subsequently, the same team went on to build a successful radio tower company which owned over 100 communications towers at the time it was very successfully sold. In Virginia, A.C. also served local government on the Falls Church City’s Economic Development Authority.

He was well known as a coach and supporter of many youth sports teams, especially at George Mason High School and High Point Pool. He embraced many passions, especially the academic and athletic achievements of his kids and their friends. A.C. was devoted to physical fitness and completed a triathalon and several Marine Corps marathons as well as being an avid golfer. His love of The New York Times crosswords, driving his M5 and traveling throughout the world gave him great pleasure.

A.C. became a full-time resident of the Vineyard in 2009 where he was executive director of the Men’s Bereavement Group of Martha’s Vineyard — a fitting final life’s coda that combined his passion for business with the desire to help those in need.

He is survived by his loving wife, June Myers Miller of West Tisbury; his daughter Rory Leraris and her husband Mike of New York, N.Y.; his son Robin and his wife Katelyn of Columbus, Ohio; his stepsons Justin and Tobias Myers, Tobias’s wife, Leslie, and their children Lily and Tanner of the Vineyard. He is also survived by his mother, Loretta Miller of Keytesville, Mo., and his former wife, Barbara Grable Miller of Washington, D.C. He was predeceased by his father; his sister, Patricia Simmons of Palm Desert, Calif., his brother, Dr. William Miller of Keytesville, Mo., and his loyal Newfie, Huckleberry.

In lieu of flowers or other tokens of love, A.C.’s family asks that donations be made to Island Hospice, P.O. Box 4188, Vineyard Haven, MA 02568 or The Martha’s Vineyard Cancer Support Group, P.O. Box 2214, Vineyard Haven, MA 02568. Celebrations of A.C.’s life are being planned for the fall on the Vineyard and in Falls Church, Va.