With a twinkle in his eye, Arthur Louis Hillis offered a final, gentlemanly tip of the cap on April 26, 2020. A man committed to his faith; the day was as it could only ever be: a Sunday.
His 89 years began in Rochester, NY, as the son of the late Marian Darrer Forbes and Arthur L. Hillis, Sr., and stepson of the late Jack Henry Forbes.
His true life – that of husband and Hillis family patriarch – only began at Brockport College, when he met his forever dance partner, the late Barbara Jane (Stanton) Hillis. Their 64 years of romance was, above all else, his life’s crowning achievement. Yet, in his eyes, it was only a warmup for their time together now.
A devout student and educator (of as many disciplines as time and life would permit) he amassed post-graduate degrees from Canisius College, the Universities of Purdue and Connecticut, and conducted post-graduate studies at Yale. To this day, at this very minute, students continue to acquire knowledge on account of his efforts; perhaps none more notable than with Housatonic Community College, where he was a “founding father” of the institution, and former Dean of Students. His guiding hand was just as often found in a swimming pool, perfecting his freestyle or competitive diving techniques, and using every organic opportunity to impart his trademark lessons on life.
Though he counted every moment as precious as the last (MTYLTT), his true life was never more fully lived than while raising his eight children on Judson Street in Huntington (with the occasional exception of having warm sand on his feet in Oahu, or being enveloped in the sights, sounds, and smells of Yankee Stadium).
Surviving daughters and sons, Susan (Jay) Young of Oxford, Karen (Jay) Belles of Knoxville, TN, Judith Hillis of Ansonia, and Barbara Iannotti of Ansonia, Richard (Deborah) Hillis of Union Grove, Alabama, Paul Hillis of Shelton, and Michael (Lynne) Hillis of Derby, carry on his legacy of love, forgiveness, and compassion. His son Timothy J. Hillis, M.D., greets him in the next life with a long overdue and most welcome embrace.
The family that was his life’s passion to create continues in the form of eleven grandchildren: David, Danielle, Gregory, Jay, Janessa, Ryan, Whitney, Katherine, Erin, Alexandra and Shaun; and ten great grandchildren: Rory, Dillon, Elijah, Evan, Emma, Reagan, Samuel, Kennedy, Cecilia Jane and Olivia. He also watches over his loving cousin, Margaret Mary (Toots) Freudigman and her family.
Always one with the wisdom to see endings only as new beginnings, as Art once wrote to his family: “So!… Who am I? … I am Barbara Stanton Hillis’ husband and father of her eight children. … Where am I going?… we will just have to wait and see.”
The family wishes to thank Dr. Lynne Hillis, his guardian angel, and Dr. Lucky Fernando for their devotion to his care and quality of life.
Due to the current health situation, a private service for immediately family will take place with inurnment in Mount Saint Peter Mausoleum in Derby. The SPINELLI-RICCIUTI FUNERAL HOME, 62 Beaver Street in Ansonia has been privileged with the arrangements. To sign Arthur’s guestbook or to share a memory, please visit www.spinelliricciutifh.com.
