John Patrick Hill
October 18, 1962 - January 13, 2005
- Share:
John Patrick Hill
October 18, 1962 - January 13, 2005
Obituary
John Patrick Hill, 42 years of age, passed away January 13, 2005 after a long and courageous 3 year battle with leukemia. He died peacefully at his home in the presence of many loved ones. John was a great husband, dad, son, brother, uncle and friend to so many people.
John was born October 18, 1962 and was raised in Lakewood, California. A graduate of Lakewood High School and Long Beach City College, he went onto become a Paramedic, Firefighter, Captain and Training Instructor with the Torrance Fire Department. He was a hero and teacher to many. He loved his job and his Firefighter Family so much he often said he would do his job for free. John always felt extremely rewarded in which he had a job with the opportunity of helping people every day.
John lived and loved life to it’s fullest. He was always there with a smile and his sparkling blue eyes. Meeting John for the first time left others with a lasting impression of ‘What a great guy.’ This lovely, handsome man was surrounded by a wonderful family, many friends, and, of course, his brotherhood of firefighters who were there to assist him to the end. John believed that being together with family and friends was what ‘life was all about.’ He was such an outgoing person and always had something planned for family fun. John had such a great love for the outdoors. He enjoyed going camping, dirt bike riding, surfing, hiking in the mountains, and water skiing at the river, to say the least.
John was never too busy for family and friends and was always willing to lend a helping hand. For all who knew him, they knew that if they ever needed anything, John would be the first to volunteer. John wanted to leave behind a little bit of himself in everyone he knew. Anyone who knew John has a story to tell…and more than likely a funny one!
Among many of his God-given gifts, John was a natural teacher to us all and loved sharing his knowledge. He managed and coached for Rancho Mission Viejo Little League for seven years and was on the Board of Directors – Oh, how he loved being on the ball field! John’s positive attitude was one to be admired. He inspired, taught, and made all the people he encountered want to be a better person. He had a level of compassion or others that few people could only aspire to. John was someone who made everyone feel special. When you talked to John, he was genuinely interested in what you were saying, and conversation was easy and fun. His appreciation of life was very contagious and spread throughout the people who knew him.
John leaves behind the love of his life and devoted wife, Kathy; his daughter Sarah, 14; his son Connor, 12; his mother Pat Hill; his sisters and brother, Laurie and Larry Lyon, Regina and Tom Anderson, Gaye Williams, Kass, Joe and Susan Hill; his niece and nephew Tricia and Dan Anderson; and, of course, his family dogs, Rudy and Sombra.
John will be missed tremendously by us all, yet forever remembered and loved by his family and many, many friends.
A celebration of John’s life will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Friday, January 21, 2005 at the Saddleback Church in Lake Forest. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made in honor of John Hill to the Leukemia Research Foundation, www.leukemia-research.org or 888 558-5395. To share your condolences and memories of John, please visit www.oconnormortuary.com and select OBITUARIES.
77 responses to John Patrick Hill
Dennis Costello says:
January 21, 2005
Beloved Brother John,
We are proud to have known you, honored to have served with you, and heartbroken to have lost you.
“And your soul will never fade away…..You’ll live forever when the piper plays”
Respectfully, Dennis Costello
Joe & Brigitte Brotherton Briscoe says:
January 21, 2005
Our thoughts and prayers go out to John’s family and friends. He will be deeply missed and his family will be in our prayers.
Joe and Tracy Beller says:
January 21, 2005
John, we praise and thank the Lord daily for the light of Christ that is so briliantly reflected in you, and the power of your testimony. It is to be cherished as God blessed us, by brininging someone as special as you into our lives. You have touched and strengthend us more than you know and hold a place forever in our hearts.
You bring special meaning to 2 Timothy 4:6-8 “For I am already poured out like a drink offering, and the time has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the rigteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but to all who have loved his appearing”.
Until we meet again, we will fondly remember you always.
Kathy your love for John is amazing to witness and very special to behold, a love that “lifts up” all who see it.
Sara and Connor, you are your father’s joy. He spoke so lovingly about you always, and never forgot that you are a gift from God.
Joe and Tracy Beller.
Randy and Maggie Hallmann says:
January 21, 2005
Dear Kathy,
We had the privilage of meeting John back when he roomed with my brother Rock and found him such a vibrant young man. He was a good friend to a lot of my family and we were saddened to hear of his passing. May God be with you and your family and may you know that our prayers are with you all.
Robert says:
January 21, 2005
Kathy, Sarah and Connor,
John and I came on the Torrance Fire Department together. Even in the recruit class you could see John’s experience in the fire service coming through. I remember one time after we had been on about a year, it was John’s duty to cook that day. He was making a chicken dish and all the chickens needed to be cleaned and prepared to be put into the pot. I walked in and asked John if he needed help with anything. He said if I could clean all the chicken that would be great. I laughed and said, no really, need help with anything else cleaning chickens for 18 guys was no one’s idea of fun. He then went on to tell me that touching and cleaning uncooked chickens freaked him out. I said your kidding, after you being a medic for all those years, chicken freaked you out. He said with a straight face, yes. I cleaned the chickens that day, but never knew if John was afraid of uncooked chickens or very clever for getting me to do the dirty work. Whichever, it doesn’t really matter because John was the type of person that you didn’t mind helping because you know that he would be willing to help you first.
As I was reading I came across these passeges in 1 Thessalonians, chapter 4, verses 13-18 and chapter 5, verses 8-11.
But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethern, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. For we say this to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means preceed those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.
But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation. For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him. Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.
Our family is praying for you during this time and are confident that we will see John when we get to heaven.
God bless,
The Ritter Family
Robert, Natascha, Katrina & Joseph