GOSHEN — Maira Santos and Nancy Medina stopped in front of the memorial near the entrance of the science building at Goshen College Monday to pay tribute to their former biology professor, James Miller.

Photos of the professor were framed next to a board that included several large sheets of handwritten remembrances. Both Santos and Medina were students in one of Miller’s human anatomy classes last spring and wrote personal messages on the board.

“He was a great professor,” Medina said. “He did everything he could to make sure his students were learning what they needed to learn. He would take his time to explain his lecture all over again to make sure you understood. He was a good person.”

Miller was killed in an apparent home invasion two blocks from campus early Sunday.

A sense of grieving over the loss of Miller, who was part of the campus for 31 years, began Sunday night with a vigil and continued Monday.

Santos and Medina said they sensed Miller cared about each student beyond just classroom issues.

 “I saw him Friday and he was asking how class was,” Medina said, adding that news of Miller’s death was a shock. “I learned about it yesterday and still can’t believe it.”

The tragic jolt of reality still had not sunken in for some.

“I feel like I can still go to his office and see him,” Santos said.

Sadness is replacing the shock and disbelief, said Richard Aguirre, director of public relations for the college.

Monday’s regular convocation became an opportunity to grieve, pray and remember. About 450 people, including some members of the Miller family, attended.

“There were laughter and tears and deep sorrow,” Aguirre said.

Miller’s reputation for humor came as a result of student reviews, which early on in his career noted a lack of light-hearted moments in the classroom. Miller made a concerted effort to improve that aspect, Aguirre said.

“He loved to tell puns and tell jokes. Most of them were really corny,” Aguirre said. “In today’s convocation, two students and one faculty member told jokes he loved to tell.”

“But there were also a lot of tears, too,” Aguirre added. “One student related that if it was not for him, she would not have passed her courses.”

Many of the comments left at the makeshift memorial in the science building struck a personal note:

“God bless you. Your corny jokes will be forever missed” one message read.

“I will never be able to look at crayfish without thinking of you. Rest in peace,” read another.

“I’ll never forget your love of science and your inspiration,” read yet another.

Classes continued at GC Monday and two counselors were available to discuss Miller’s death. Students were encouraged to attend classes and time was made available in all classes for discussion, prayer and silence, Aguirre said.

For some on campus, the fact that principles of non-violence are central to Goshen College made circumstances harder to comprehend. Aguirre said the tragedy has brought the campus closer together and helped “restate the values we hold dear.”

 “We hope that not only will there be justice, but that that person will be brought closer to God and maybe even someday make amends for this,” Aguirre said. “We are as committed to our vision and our orientation to be peacemakers as ever before.”

Ryan Sensenig, chairman of the biological studies department at GC, said his office was close enough to one of Miller’s lecture halls that he could almost set his watch to the times in which Miller would attempt some of his jokes.

While that characteristic was part of Miller’s legacy, Sensenig said his biggest impact was his passion for physiology and his ability to get students involved in lab projects.

Sensenig said Miller was “extremely committed to getting laboratory experiences for the classes he taught that were rigorous, informative and innovative, using devices and technology that he wrote grants for to receive and equip his labs.”

Miller regularly was involved in the Maple Scholars program and worked with students each summer on research projects, Sensenig said.

He described Miller as reserved and focused on his work.

“One of the joys for me was getting to know Jim slowly over time,” he said. “The longer I got to know Jim, the more I appreciated his contributions.”