- Date Of Birth: November 8, 1935
- Date Of Death: July 5, 2022
- State: Illinois
Samuel E. “Sam” Hill, age 86, of Geneva, passed away Tuesday, July 5, 2022 at Arden Courts of Geneva. He had fought for over 10 years the debilitating Alzheimer’s disease.
Sam was born November 8, 1935, in Battle Creek, Michigan, the son of Samuel H. and Ruth (Twichell) Hill. He is survived by his wife of 63 years Carolyn (Snader); children Jennifer (Dan Dworzynski) of Roselle and Jeffrey (Kathy) of Darien; grandchildren Mackenzie, Tyler, and Justin of Darien; sister Sue McClenachan of Greenwich, Connecticut; and other family members.
He was preceded in death by his brother-in-law Jack Snader and parents.
Sam grew up in Royal Oak, Michigan. After graduation from high school, Sam attended Kiski Prep School in Saltsburg, PA where he played football and baseball for one year. Sam entered the University of Illinois in the Fall of 1954. He played freshman football with Ray Nitschke and Bob Mitchell. He was an active member of Sigma Chi Fraternity. It was Sam’s senior year that he met his wife-to-be, Carolyn; they were married in August 1959. Sam graduated with a degree in Recreation and Park Management. His first job took him and Carolyn to Lincoln, Illinois where he was Superintendent of Recreation.
After Lincoln, Illinois, Sam and Carolyn moved back to Champaign to allow Sam to work at completing his thesis. It was in Champaign, that Sam became a father to his first born, a girl named Jennifer. In late Spring, the family moved to Elmhurst, Illinois where he served as Superintendent of Recreation.
It was in Geneva, that Sam began a long history of volunteer work. In addition to his involvement with the Geneva Park District, Sam served on the plan commission for a number of years and beginning in 2001, Sam served for 12 years as alderman for the first ward. Kevin Burns, mayor of Geneva is quoted as saying “His love for and dedication to all things Geneva was unmistakable. To serve with him on the council and benefit from his advice, friendship, and kindness was a true joy.” Quote from article by Susan Sarkauskas in Daily Herald.
Sam was instrumental in establishing Memory Café. When his wife came home from her support group upbeat and enthused, Sam decided he needed a support group for those with a form of dementia to meet with their loved ones at a place where those with mild to moderate dementia can meet and socialize.
In 2013, Sam and his co-council woman, Dorothy Flanagan, danced in Dancing with the Stars benefitting Geneva Cultural Commission and GAF. They performed a rumba and raised the most money votes to win the competition. At that time, Sam had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease.
Sam loved golf; even after retiring in 2001, he worked at a couple of golf courses as a starter. A younger Sam enjoyed skiing, swimming, racket ball, and golf.
Card, phone calls, and emails are pouring in with amazing, beautiful heart-warming comments. As Sally Estes posted on Facebook . . . “he was one of the good guys.
