In Honor of John Lillard
We are deeply saddened to announce the passing of John Lillard, a former member of the Jack Miller Center Board of Directors and a steadfast supporter of our mission, on January 30th. John leaves behind a legacy as a deeply dedicated husband and father, a successful real estate investment executive, and an extraordinary philanthropist of great generosity.
Joining our Board of Directors in 2010, John was instrumental in driving significant advancements in education over the past decade. His commitment to enhancing educational opportunities, coupled with his keen intellect and inquisitive nature, made him an invaluable advisor during pivotal periods of growth for the Jack Miller Center.
Throughout his tenure, John and his wife Paula collaborated with the Jack Miller Center to make meaningful investments in education, spanning both university and K-12 levels. Their support at the University of Virginia, John’s alma mater, was instrumental in establishing the UVA Program on Constitutionalism and Democracy, as well as funding a Chaired Professorship in America’s Founding Principles and History. The couple also endowed a JMC partner program at Lake Forest College that offers content-based graduate courses for K-12 teachers.
As fellow board member William McClay aptly expressed,
“John was a tremendous asset to JMC—a man of vision, generosity, optimism, and remarkable kindness, who freely shared both his time and resources. His presence always uplifted those around him.”
– William McClay
We are profoundly grateful for John’s exemplary leadership, which played a pivotal role in elevating the Jack Miller Center to national prominence in civic education. Our deepest condolences go out to John’s wife Paula, his extended family, and his cherished friends. In the words of Jack Miller himself, “It was my honor and extreme pleasure to know and be a friend of John.”
You can find John’s obituary here.