Some lives shine with extraordinary brilliance, touching countless others with their warmth and wisdom. Dr. Robert Miles was one such luminous soul. His story, shared with me by his wife Dr. Linda Miles, is a testament to the power of resilience, compassion, and unconditional love.
Robert’s journey began in tumultuous times. At the tender age of four, while his father served as a Navy physician in the South Pacific during World War II, young Robert found himself shuttling between a military base in Pensacola and child services. These early experiences, rather than hardening him, seemed to instill in Robert a deep well of empathy that would define his life’s work.
Imagine a young boy, wide-eyed and curious, attending movie screenings alongside patients from Florida State Hospital, where his father was Clinical Director. The air was thick with smoke from cap guns, these moments planted seeds of understanding and acceptance that would blossom throughout Robert’s life. It’s a poignant image that speaks volumes about the man he would become.
Robert’s path led him from ward of the state to Head Psychiatrist for the Department of Children and Families in Florida, echoing his father’s footsteps as Clinical Director at Florida State Hospital. During his interview for this position, in a moment of quiet pride, he pointed to a photograph of a former Director, simply murmuring, “That is my father.” It was a torch passed, and a legacy continued.
But Robert was far more than his professional achievements. Known for his dry wit and expansive vocabulary (the family jokingly referred to his penchant for “$.25 words”), he was a man of diverse talents. On the high school basketball court, he earned the moniker “scoring machine,” initiating a family tradition of playing for Florida State University. His musical prowess led him from playing trombone in fourth grade to performing in a jazz band during medical school – though he always regretted passing up a chance to jam with Elvis Presley at Graceland, choosing to study instead.
Throughout his career, Robert’s fascination with the unconscious mind drove him to help others. He worked tirelessly for his patients, supervised mental health professionals, and even helped initiate a program where mental health professionals rode along with police officers in the 1970s – a progressive approach that recognized the complex intersections of mental health and law enforcement.
Yet, for all his professional accomplishments, it was in his role as husband and father that Robert truly shone. His love for Linda, his wife of over three decades, was the stuff of poetry – quite literally. Early in their marriage, he gifted her with W.B. Yeats’ words: “One man loved the pilgrim soul in you and the sorrows of your changing face.” Even as dementia began to cloud his memories, the essence of their love remained. In a moment that epitomizes their bond, Robert, unable to recall if they were married, asks Linda to marry him again. They renewed their vows surrounded by their beloved family – a testament to love that transcends memory.
Robert’s legacy lives on through his children and grandchildren, each carrying forward the Miles family tradition of service, compassion, and love. His son Will, continuing the naval tradition, gave his first salute as an officer to his grandfather the night before Robert passed away – a poignant full-circle moment that bridges generations.
As we reflect on Robert’s life, we’re reminded of the quote he held dear: “Let us be gentle with one another in this brief time, for we shall die in exile far from home.” These words, by May Sarton, encapsulate the essence of Robert’s approach to life – one of gentleness, compassion, and an acute awareness of the preciousness of our time together.
Dr. Robert Miles’ story is more than a biography; it’s a reminder of the profound impact one life, living with purpose and love, can have. From the boy watching movies with patients to the respected psychiatrist, from the jazz-playing medical student to the devoted husband renewing his vows, Robert’s journey inspires us to embrace empathy, pursue our passions, and above all, to love unconditionally. His life serves as a beacon, guiding us to be a little kinder, a little more understanding, and to cherish each moment we have with one another.
Published by: Khy Talara
