Keith Alexander Learmonth Hillman

Keith was loved by his family for his kindnesses, wisdom, generosity and sense of humour. He is survived by his wife Susan (née Newton), son, Anthony (Jill), daughters Keri (Hal) and Tracy, and his grandchildren, Jordan, Madeleine and Elisse Beckett. He was pre-deceased by his brother, Melville, and sisters Hazel (Hyde) and Elizabeth June (Medley).

Keith was born in Saskatoon to an English father (Frank) and Scottish mother (Elizabeth). In 1935, Keith (age 5) was sent to live with close family friends in Calgary, due to the Depression. In 1939 the family moved from Saskatoon to Toronto as the Government needed workers for the munitions factories due to the threat of a second world war.

In 1945, the family moved to British Columbia, settling in South Vancouver, where Keith attended John Oliver High School and met his first wife, June Tunbridge. Keith became President of the Drama Club and Student Council, where he re-wrote the Student Constitution for the expanding school. He completed his senior matric and graduated with honours, entering The University of British Columbia Arts Department in 1948, majoring in History and English, and winning a prize for writing an Elizabethan soliloquy.

Keith and his first wife June, married in 1950 and had three children. Keith received his Bachelor of Arts in 1953, his Bachelor of Laws in 1954, and was called to the Bar in 1955.

Keith then worked for a law firm in Kamloops, returning to Vancouver to join the legal department of B. C. Electric. In 1956 he joined the Vancouver Junior Chamber of Commerce, where he guided a two-year investigation into Prison and Penal reform. By 1960, Keith was elected President of the Vancouver Junior Chamber of Commerce. In 1963, in competition with 125 other lawyers, he was awarded the position of Executive Assistant to the President of Weldwood Canada, a multi-national corporation.

Keith then joined the prestigious law firm of Farris and Co. before diversifying into private property development. Later, as an independent lawyer, Keith advised on many films that were shot in Vancouver’s early days as a film location centre. He consulted on Robert Altman’s “McCabe and Mrs. Miller”, Paul Mazursky’s “Bob and Carol and Ted and Alice”, and Mike Nichols’ “Carnal Knowledge”.

In 1979 he met his second wife, Susan, who was “the love of his life”. They married in 1986 and travelled the world together - skiing, golfing and exploring every continent except Antarctica.

Keith loved film and theatre. He had a penchant for acting and would recite passages from movies and plays in stentorian tones. He was an avid 8mm film photographer and has left a legacy of home movies that are cherished by his family.

The family fondly remembers the Mediterranean cruise he took us on in 2008. We will always honour his noble “rescue” of an harassed pelican in Mykonos.

His last five years were consumed with dialysis three days a week and yet he never complained. He remained full of positive energy and love for his family. He delighted in our successes and was compassionate with our failings.

There is a void in the family that our Patriarch once filled; an emptiness that is only assuaged by our warm, loving memories of him. We honour his passing with love and gratitude.

A Celebration of Life will be held on April 19th at 2:00 pm at First Memorial Boal Chapel, 1505 Lilloet Road, North Vancouver. 604-980-3431

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.firstmemorialnorthvancouver.com for the Hillman family.