Leah Hoffmitz Milken | Copyright Steven A. Heller / Art Center College of Design.
It is with much sadness that I write to inform you of the passing of Professor Leah Hoffmitz Milken. She died on Saturday morning after an extended illness.
A renowned letterform expert, Leah taught at Art Center for more than 20 years and was a beloved member of our community. Throughout her career, she specialized in the creation of unique logotypes and typefaces for multiple industries and media. Corporate brands benefiting from her first-rate typographic eye include FedEx, Nokia, United Airlines and Disney, among many others.
As a faculty member, Leah helped shape and influence scores of graduates, many of whom have become internationally recognized experts in graphic design and typography. In 2013, she received the Distinguished Achievement Award in Recognition of Excellence in Teaching, Professional Accomplishment and Institutional Service. The tribute hailed her extraordinary devotion to students and to the College that she loved.
Leah’s passing is a sad day for Art Center. We offer our condolences to Leah’s husband Lowell Milken and to her entire family — a family of which this College was an essential part. She will be deeply missed.
Leah with a student. Copyright Steven A. Heller / Art Center College of Design.
very sad to see the art community lost the talent. May she rested in peace.
Leah’s passing was sent to me by a former student of mine, Jane Brown, who knew Leah was a former student of mine at the Ontario College of Art, now OCAD University.
The news of her death has affected me deeply, Leah was a memorable, terrific, meticulous, student. One of my favourites. While that was many years ago, I can still picture her in class discussing one of her typographic assignments and noting her penchant for letterform.
In her formative years of studying design, we shared a love of typography, design education and design in general. When Leah first entered my class, she was notable, her questions were articulate, her interest about design was present and her visual sensibilities were innate. Leah’s passions for type form were evident very early in her learning. Leah had intuitive form and space acuity, she had an eye for subtlety and aesthetic nuance. She was joy to teach and work with.
She was too young to die, I am distraught… she was remarkable.
It did not surprise me to learn she had received recognition for teaching excellence. Leah was already honing her teaching skills by helping her classmates early in her education. She was kind to classmates and always offered her knowledge without hesitation. She had much knowledge and never hesitated to share that with her peers.
From what I have garnered from pieces written about her, I am pleased to hear about the impact she has had on her students. Those students were lucky to have connected with her and to have received her teaching, her caring, intelligence and knowledge. I trust they will carry on her voice, and her love for and sensibilities about typography.
Art Centre has lost a special woman, teacher, colleague, friend.
I am sad about her death.
My condolences, I am sorry for her husband, family, Art Centre, her students, and those future students who will not have had the opportunity to work with Leah.
Keith Rushton
Professor, Faculty of Design,
Chair, OCAD University Senate,
Former Chair, Graphic Design