Coworkers remember life and legacy of UNCW student, yoga instructor
WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Coworkers are remembering the life and legacy of a UNCW student who died earlier this week.
21-year-old EllaRyan Marie Miller—who friends knew as “Ell”—worked as a yoga instructor at UNCW Campus Recreation.
Miller was a senior majoring in communication studies, with a minor in entrepreneurship.
On Friday, WWAY sat down with two of Miller’s co-workers at campus recreation, who remember her as a bright, calm-natured person.
“Group fitness was not my strong suit, and she was one of the first people who I ended up hiring into that position, and I remember leaving that interview thinking ‘wow, she is very talented,’” Fitness Coordinator Ashton Simon said.
Simon says Miller impacted thousands of people during her time at UNCW.
“EllaRyan taught over 100 group fitness classes with us just in the time that she was teaching here, and she had a few thousand participants,” he said. “When people leave this studio, they remember the person who walked them through that, so she really did touch the lives of everyone that she worked with here.”
Word about Miller’s classes had spread fast, and before long, her studio was at capacity.
“She would pack those classes out and folks would stay with her and follow and folks would also tell others to attend her classes,” Assistant Director of Fitness and Assessment Adrianna Del Amo recalled.
Del Amo says Miller’s passion for instruction was a breath of fresh air.
“It was great when we have students who are so excited and passionate about pouring into their craft—and that’s exactly who EllaRyan was—because it creates such a great movement experience for everyone,” she said.
Though, Miller’s involvement at UNCW went well outside of the studio.
“I know she was involved with service dog training and being in communications, I mean she had a whole life outside of here, but just within the building, she was so impactful to thousands of people,” Simon noted.
EllaRyan Miller’s celebration of life will be held Monday, August 11, 2025 at 1764 Loop Rd, Clayton NC 27527. Visitation begins at 12:00 noon and ends at 1:00 PM. Her celebration will begin promptly at 1:30 PM.
The family is asking anyone who plans to attend to wear blue or colorful clothing to remember the joy that Miller brought to those around her.
