Ruth Hillman

Beloved mother of Lois Novotny of Wayland MA, and William Hillman of Bethel, CT, she is also survived by loving grandchildren, Oren Novotny, Eitan Novotny, Sharon Hillman, and great-grandchildren Madeline and Samuel Novotny. In addition, she leaves behind son-in-law Shlomo Novothy and daughter-in-law Lori Hillman.

Born in Lodz, Poland, she immigrated to New York with her family in 1925 and made a career in the giftware business, becoming one of the first women showroom managers and product buyers in her industry.

Married to Sylvan Herbst in 1946 (d. 1963), they eventually moved to Whitestone, NY.

Following the death of her first husband, she became well known in Whitestone and Bay Terrace as “Dr. Felix’s nurse,” a medical assistant for a popular medical practice.

She married her second husband, former New York State Assemblyman Morton Hillman (d. 2014) in 1966 and continued to live in Whitestone until 1997, when she retired to Delray Beach, Florida, becoming active with her husband in the Alliance of Delray.

After relocating to Connecticut in 2014, Ruth celebrated her 98th birthday this past October with family, and received a congratulatory proclamation from the State of Connecticut and local legislators.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in her name to The Masonic Charity Foundation

Arrangements under the direction of Riverside-Nassau North Chapel, Great Neck, NY (516) 487-9600, www.riversidenassaunorthchapels.com.