William Fulton Hill II

William Fulton Hill II, much beloved husband of Dorothy Sample Hill of Fox Chapel, died peacefully on February 25th, 2024 at the age of 90. Bill and Dorothy, who met on a very successful blind date, were happily married for 65+ years and blessed to have three children and eight grandchildren: sons David (Nina) of Charlotte, Vt. and Paul (Nancy) of Halifax, Nova Scotia; daughter Catherine Jahrling (Bob) of Lincoln, MA; and grandchildren Charlie, Tom, George, Mason and Mariah Hill; Ellie, Caroline and Bobby Jahrling. Spending quality time with his family - skiing, sailing, fishing, or just being together, talking and sharing ideas was always a priority and a great joy for Bill. His parents, Eleanor Musser Hill and David Garrett Hill, as well as his brother John, predeceased him.

Bill grew up in the East End of Pittsburgh and spent many happy childhood summers at Ross Mountain and also visiting his maternal grandparents in State College, PA. where he developed, in both places, a love of fishing that would last a lifetime. A graduate of Linden Elementary School, Shady Side Academy and Cornell University School of Engineering, Bill remained close to many of the friends he met along the way in both school and work. He spent his entire business career with The Aluminum Company of America (ALCOA). Two accomplishments of which he was especially proud were managing the very successful start-up of the largest hot rolling mill in the world in 1964, and being President of the ALCOA Recycling Company when recycling was an exciting experiment. The first of many volunteer activities was to become a Senior Worker in Contact, a volunteer telephone helpline in Pittsburgh, founded by the Fox Chapel Presbyterian Church, where he later served as an Elder. Bill was a member of the Chautauqua Institution Foundation Board for many years and for six years served as its chairman during both challenging and very rewarding times.

Bill embraced retirement with enthusiasm for travel, sports, volunteering, and seeing his beloved family mature and expand. He was a lover and appreciator of nature, in all of its wonder, richness and diversity - a love he passed on to his children and grandchildren. Fly fishing in central Pennsylvania, Montana, Alaska, the Bahamas and Mexico highlighted the years, along with family trips for skiing, hiking, rafting, and exploring other places and peoples of the world. Summers were spent enjoying the many cultural, educational and sporting advantages of Chautauqua, as well as being with the almost countless relatives who shared his love of this place.

Bill had a keen mind and an unbelievably impressive memory. He was honest to the core and could always be trusted. He was an excellent bridge player, a voracious reader (especially of history) and a very good friend to many, including his kids, his grandkids, his dogs and the birds he so faithfully fed. He loved to dance, to sing, to laugh, to grow his garden, to watch his various sports on TV and to thoroughly enjoy his nightly martini. He was a really good man, at heart a gentle man, and perhaps above all, an absolutely great fisherman! He will be sorely missed!

A family memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on  April 27 at the Fox Chapel Presbyterian Church. Friends are welcomed to attend.  Afterwards there will be a gathering from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. at the Fox Chapel Golf Club, 426 Fox Chapel Rd., light lunch and memories of Bill will be shared.

In lieu of flowers, donations to the Fox Chapel Presbyterian Church, to the Chautauqua Foundation, Dorothy and William Hill Family Trust Fund, Chautauqua, NY 14722 or to a charity of your choice would be very much appreciated.

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