Of Glendale, died at home Thursday  July 2, 2015 at the age of  85 years. Former general counsel at Marquette University. He leaves his wife, Sally (Smith) Hill of Glendale; a son, John G. Hill III of Cranston, R.I.;  a daughter, Ellen Hill Tangen of Milwaukee; a step-son, Stephen Smith of Eagle; a step-daughter, Jessica Renteria, of Mt. Pleasant, three grandchildren and six step grandchildren. He was previously married to Barbara O. Hill, who died in 1985.

He was a veteran of the United States Coast Guard. Before coming to Marquette in 1980 and from which he retired to private practice in 1996, Hill had served as legal counsel for the Connecticut Public Utilities Commission, general counsel for the University of Connecticut and Boston University. He was an expert in the legal aspects of university administration, and co-authored a textbook on the subject, ‘The Student, The College, The Law’ in 1972. He argued before the United States Supreme Court. He was born and grew up in Hartford, Conn., the eldest son of John and Marion Hill. He earned his bachelors, masters and PhD degrees from the University of Connecticut, and a masters degree from Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut. He received his law degree from the University of Connecticut School of Law UConn was one of the passions of his life and for decades after graduation he kept close ties to it, particularly through his philanthropy, establishing scholarships in its political science and journalism departments. Until the end of his life he pursued an avid interest in history and art, continuing to take college courses on, among others, the impressionists, the Tin Pan Alley School, ancient Rome and the styles of Japan and elsewhere in Asia. He was a recognized guest at virtually every art museum in the area and worked as a docent at the Milwaukee Art Museum.

He was a man of wit, integrity and charm, a raconteur who was in his element at an elegant dinner event or on the back patio setting off firecrackers with his family; though his favorite pastime was probably lying stretched out on the couch, watching Masterpiece Theatre.

Memorial Gathering Monday July 6 from 2:00PM until 4:00PM at the FUNERAL HOME.