Barney Hill

Barney Hill died March 1, 2023, at the age of 99, after a long and very full life that spanned a century in which the world changed dramatically. He was born in 1923 on Poplar St. in the West End of Boston, into a family of 5 children, of which he was the last survivor.

Barney served in WWII with his three brothers. He served from 1943-1946 in the 895th Army Postal Unit and was stationed in Europe for the duration of the war. He married Rosalyn Steinmetz in 1949, and had two sons, David and Richard. He raised his family in Dorchester and Mattapan, before moving to Newton in 1965, where he lived for the past 58 years until his death. From 1989 - 2018 he also spent his winters in Boca Raton, Florida.

Barney began his professional career working in the Bell Shop, which became the Zayres Corporation, where he started as a stock boy and retired in 1986 as a regional director in charge of opening new stores all over the country. After his retirement, Barney enjoyed traveling with his beloved late wife Rosalyn, learned to play golf, was active in his synagogue Beth Avodah, and loved socializing with many friends and family.

His greatest joy in his later years was his grandchildren, Megan Hill McKennedy and her husband Jim, Michael and Jaycee Hill, Brittany Hill, and Rachael Downey. Daily chats with them made him very happy, and he closely followed their families and careers. Holding his first great grandchild, Miles Hill, was one of the best moments of his life. He was thrilled to welcome a second great grandchild, Emma McKennedy, and looked forward to every video call and delivery of photos of his two great-grandchildren. He also enjoyed teaching his grandchildren Yiddish and would quiz them during their phone chats, taking pride in continuing the heritage of their ancestors. Barney loved to tell stories of his youth, and gave us all a wonderful sense of how the world has transformed through the recounting of the hardships and joys of life as a first generation American, and his experiences over the past century in business, marriage, war, and travel. He was a wonderful storyteller and vividly brought his experiences to life.

In addition to his grandchildren and great grandchildren, Barney leaves behind his son Richard, who cared for him in his final years. He was sadly predeceased by his son David in 2022.

The funeral will be held on Tuesday, March 7 at Stanetsky Memorial Chapels, 475 Washington St, Canton followed by a graveside service at Sharon Memorial Park.

The family will be sitting shiva from 5:00-8:00 pm on March 7 at the family home in Newton.

In lieu of flowers the family appreciates donations to Disabled American Veterans (dav.org).