Russell J. Hill's Obituary
RUSSELL JOHN HILL, of Berea, passed away on January 12, 2014 at age 94.
Beloved husband of and preceded in death by Barbara Jean (nee Lusby), father of Cheryl (Tom) Toth, Peggy (Tom) Mayer, Russ (Mary Beth) Hill and Paul (Ricky) Hill. Grandfather of Leslie Walker (nee Mayer), Janet Mayer, Dan Mayer, Katie Hill and Matthew Hill. Great Grandfather of Liam and Lilah Walker. Born August 2, 1919 in Dunville, Ontario, Canada.
Grew up in Toronto, Ontario and Detroit, MI where he attended art school. WWII veteran, Staff Sergeant and recipient of the Bronze Star. Moved to Berea in 1956 and became a respected Cleveland advertising executive with Meldrum & Fewsmith and Bayless-Kerr advertising agencies, Cahners Publishing and founded his own agency, Communication Concepts, which he ran for many years. He also created and published a Berea community focused magazine, “Our Town Berea”. An active volunteer, he was a member of the Industrial Marketers of Cleveland, tf Club, the Hermit Club, Toastmasters, Berea Boosters, Berea Summer Theatre, Discover Berea and the Berea Chamber of Commerce. He received the Berea Grindstone Award in 1986 in recognition of his long community service. Russ was known as a consummate professional and a “doer”, a guy who would see things that needed doing and did them without regard for who got the credit. He faced each day with a smile and made it a goal of trying to put a smile on someone else’s face each day. Long time active member in the Berea United Church of Christ. Loved travel, reading, history, humorous stories and good puns. Brought smiles to the faces of those who knew him right into his final days.
VISITATION will be held on Saturday, February 8, 2014, 10am – 12pm, at The Chapel at Sunset Memorial Park, 6245 Columbia Road, North Olmsted, 44070. MEMORIAL SERVICES will take place at 12:00pm at The Chapel, followed immediately by inurnment with full military honors in the Westwood Abbey Mausoleum in Sunset Memorial Park, 6265 Columbia Rd., North Olmsted, 440710. Donations may be sent in lieu of flowers to: Berea Church Street Ministries, 398 West Bagley Road, Berea, Ohio 44017.
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