Roger Cleveland Hill
January 2, 1926 ~ October 13, 2019
Born in:
Fostoria, OH
Resided in:
Asheville, NC
Roger C Hill, 93, son of the late Robert and Jean Hill, passed away on October 13, 2019 at the Givens Estates Health Center. He was predeceased by his wife of 62 years Nancy J Hill and his sister Margaret Hummer.
Roger was born January 2, 1926 in Fostoria, Ohio where he grew up and lived until heading off to college at Northwestern University. After graduating from college, Roger entered the United States Air Force for a two year tour of duty as an Entertainment Specialist. He was assigned to the Air Force base in Nuremburg, Germany in charge of all entertainment activities for the troops stationed there. Following his tour of duty he continued his education at Northwestern University to pursue his Masters Degree. While there he met Nancy Dana where a short courtship resulted in marriage and a life together for 62 years. He continued his education earning his PhD at Purdue University then pursued his love of theater as a professor in the theater arts department at Cortland State University in Cortland, NY in 1962.
He and Nancy traveled the world together visiting many countries in both Europe and Asia over the years. Moving to Asheville following retirement he became involved in community activities including: Asheville New Friends, Reading for the Blind on Mountain Area Regional Reading Service (MARRS), Civitan, Meals on Wheel, Central United Methodist Church and the Asheville Public Library. Other interests included Square Dancing and sharing travel stories and photos with groups around the Givens Estates campus. Roger was an avid tennis player enjoying winning Senior Doubles Tournaments in Asheville with his longtime partner.
Roger is survived by his two sons, Christopher and his wife Wendy, Dana and his wife Elizabeth, five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. His extended family includes his sister, Judith Stearns and her family and Margaret Hummer’s family.
A celebration of Roger’s life will be held at the Givens Estates, Asbury Commons in the Stuenkel Living Room from 1:30 pm to 3:00 pm on Wednesday, October 23rd for those who want to stop by.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to GERCSA, in care of Givens Estates, 2360 Sweeten Creek Road, Asheville, NC 28803 or Central United Methodist Church, 27 Church Street, Asheville, NC 28801.
Services
Celebration of Life: October 23, 2019 1:30 pm - April 24, 2024 3:00 pm
Givens Estates, Asbury Commons, Stuenkel Living Room
2360 Sweeten Creek Rd.
Asheville, NC 28803
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Roger and Nancy were close friends of my parents; they all served on faculty together at SUNY-Cortland. Roger recently gave a generous donation for a plaque at the college in memory of my father, for which we’re all extremely grateful.
As a teen I considered myself a hotshot tennis player. I hit harder than Roger and was considerably bigger than he was by the time I was 16. I thought for sure I’d have no problem playing him… Roger of course beat me with barely the loss of a game, and he was more than gracious in victory in spite of my losing my temper in defeat. We all remember him as a great gentleman and will miss him.
My deepest sympathy to each & all from an old neighbor & friend of Roger & Nancy.
I have just learned of Roger’s passing, three days late for his memorial service, and I am so sorry to have missed it. Roger was, for many years, one of my favorite readers at the radio reading service for the blind in Asheville. I always looked forward to seeing him enter the room with a smile and a twinkle in his eye. I always looked forward to hearing of his tennis exploits, as his bracket slowly dwindled down to just a handful of players. He was a wonderful volunteer reader for us for years. He was a delightful man whose counsel and friendship I cherished. I am so sorry he is gone, but so glad to have known him. My condolences to his family.
Roger was one of my professors at SUNY Cortland in the early to mid-70s. He was an incredibly kind and patient teacher, who always looked like he really enjoyed doing whatever he was doing, whether teaching, directing, or just cruising through life. (And not for nothin’, as we say in New York, Aaron Copp was not the only brash young man Roger mopped the floor with in tennis without breaking a sweat!)
He taught me how to handle bizarre situations with grace and aplomb, skills that have served me well throughout life. He was a sweetheart of a man. It was an honor and a pleasure to have known him.
Roger Hill was a wonderful teacher and a kind, warm man who truly always had a twinkle in his eye. I took several courses he taught at Cortland and learned a great deal from him in the very pleasant classroom environment he created and also worked on various shows he directed during my four years there. He was accessible and yet maintained his dignity as the professor, lines which sometimes blurred in the 60s. I will always remember how he and his lovely wife opened their home to us for our Alpha Psi induction ceremonies and the accompanying party. RIP Dr. Hill.