Tristan Miller
Tristan was a 17-year-old junior in high school who was very athletic, caring, funny, and incredibly intelligent. He was an old soul who appreciated music that was created before he was even born. He was incredibly athletic and succeeded in any sport he put his mind to. Tristan was incredibly fast and found his passion in basketball and music. When Tristian was in his junior year of high school, he made a decision that he could never take back. On November 12, 2017, Tristan took his life. His passing greatly affected his family, his friends, his teammates, and the entire community that had known and loved him. The entire community rallied together to support the Millers during this time. He was gone, but never forgotten.
Jennifer Miller, left, and Jeff Miller, right, hold a photo of their son, Tristan Miller, outside of their home on Sulphur Spring Road in Chillicothe, Ohio, Nov. 3, 2024. “He was very conscience about how he presented himself, behaved or spoke to people and how that impacted people, it felt he was in tune with people from a very young age and always was looking out for everybody but himself,” said Jennifer, Tristan’s mom.
Chad Ison, Tristan's childhood friend, stands in front of Zane Trace High School for a portrait on Oct. 22, 2024. “He taught me, especially after his passing, you never know what somebody’s going through. I think it was diagnosed as perfectly hidden depression. You never really know who could be going through it,” said Ison.
Chad Ison shows off the tattoo that he got on his forearm to honor and remember Tristan on Oct. 22, 2024, at the Tristan Miller Memorial Picnic Area in front of Zane Trace High School.
Framed photos and a wooded memorial plate hang in the Zane Trace boy’s locker room hallway at Zane Trace High School in Chillicothe, Ohio, Oct. 9, 2024. Tristan was very talented in many aspects of his life. He excelled in anything he put his mind to. “He was insanely athletic; nobody could contend with him on the basketball court,” according to Tristan’s childhood best friend, Chad Ison.
The Tristan Miller Memorial Picnic Area sits outside of Zane Trace High School in Chillicothe, Ohio, on Oct. 9, 2024. This memorial was donated to the school by the Tristan Miller Music Foundation in 2021.
"That doesn't define who he is, and it won't define anyone else."
-Jen Miller
All of Tristan’s instruments sit in the basement of his childhood home on Oct. 28, 2024, in Chillicothe, Ohio. “He was a wise soul he just seemed in tune. He could learn about music from a trivia standpoint or a knowledge standpoint. It wasn’t just learning how to play a certain instrument or loving a certain band,” said Jennifer. Tristan was very talented in many different aspects of his life. Many people noticed him for the ways that he excelled in basketball, but the people closest to him were able to recognize his talent in the music world. “A family who rocks together stays together," said Jennifer.
Tristan’s dad’s tribute guitar sits in the basement of their home on Oct. 28, 2024. “It’s one of the best guitars I had, and I painted it as a tribute to him,” said Jeff. The guitar is from 1983 and was last used to perform at the Tristan Miller Music Festival. Jeff performed with his other son, Trey, who recently started playing the drums as a tribute to his brother. Trey recently started playing the drum as a tribute to his brother.
Tristan Miller Music Foundation
The Tristan Miller Music Foundation was established in 2017 by Tristan's intermediate family. The foundation recognizes Tristan's love for music while also sharing his legacy and giving others the chance to to learn about the kind of person he was. Tristan loved music and incorporated this heavily into his life. The foundation's goal is to spread awareness for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention while spreading kindness to the community and creating an open space for people to come and remember Tristan. Each year, the foundation hosts a couple of different events for the community that bring together many people who loved and cared for Tristan while also welcoming people who didn't know him. There's an Annual Golf tournament, The Tristan Miller Music Festival, and many different scholarship opportunities for the people who were touched by Tristan's life. The foundation continues to create new events every year for the community to come out to so that his name never dies.
"It is our mission for everyone to know it's okay not to be okay"
-Tristian Miller Music Foundation
Hannah Masters, Tristan’s sister, works on the chalk art displayed at the Tristan Miller Music Festival in Chillicothe, Ohio, on Oct. 12, 2024.
Triton Davidson, Camden Larson, Justin Steitenburger, and Trey Miller stand on the balcony at the Tristan Miller Music Festival on Oct. 12, 2024. The festival brings together many friends and family members of Tristan’s as a celebration of life. “His life mattered. Tristan impacted so many people that we weren’t aware of. Our mission is to keep this at the forefront so people know this is okay to talk about,” said Jennifer.
Tyler Kuhner, Tristian’s brother, holds his daughter, Lennon Kuhner, at the Tristan Miller Music Festival on Oct. 12, 2024. “The word suicide, nobody likes it. We don’t like it, but it is what it is. Nobody wants to talk about it, they hear that and shy away. We aren’t there talking about it all day. [The festival] is to make sure he is remembered and everything about him,” said Jennifer.
Moose Miller performs with his band on Oct. 12, 2024, at the Tristan Miller Music Festival in Chillicothe, Ohio.