Robert J. Hill, Jr.

Robert J. Hill, Jr., formerly of Littleton, passed away peacefully under hospice care in Salem at the age of 79 on February 27. The beloved son of the late Robert Joseph Hill and Virginia (Walters) Hill, Bob is survived by his sister, Virginia N.H. Dodge, and brother-in-law, Dexter A. Dodge, of Swampscott, and his brother, Gregory W. Hill of Somerville, as well as several cousins and many friends.

He was a graduate of the University of New Hampshire, Class of 1964, and served in

the United States Air Force as a Russian language and intelligence specialist, finishing first in his class at Army Language School in Monterey, CA. After college and military service, he became a public relations guru and skilled marketing writer for many years in and around Boston, Connecticut and the San Francisco Bay Area. As a teenager, Bob qualified as an amateur (“ham”) radio operator and throughout his life enjoyed staying in contact with other “hams” throughout the world through his call sign, W1ARR.

He developed a passion for contract bridge and participated in many tournaments throughout New England, ultimately achieving the rank of Gold Grand Master. With the advent of today’s technology, Bob became part of a very special network on Facebook and will be missed by his many Facebook friends. He was an accomplished wordsmith with a deep love of the English language in all its variety and will be remembered for his sharp wit and keen sense of humor.

Family and friends are invited to a memorial gathering to share their own words, stories and memories, spoken or written, of Bob at the Eustis & Cornell Funeral Home, 142 Elm Street, Marblehead on Wednesday, March 22 at 10:30AM. Interment will be private. The family wishes to express our deep appreciation for the skilled, compassionate care afforded Bob by the Hawthorne Wing staff at Grosvenor Park Health Center in Salem. Donations in Bob’s name may be made to Thayer Academy, 745 Washington Street, Braintree, MA 02184, Care Dimensions, 75 Sylvan Street, Suite B-102, Danvers, MA 01923, or the charity of your choice.