IN MEMORIAM: Mary Hill, 89;

Active In Cooperstown Civic Life

COOPERSTOWN–Mary H. Hill, 89, a Bassett Hospital volunteer and active member of Cooperstown civic life, died Saturday, Sept. 22, 2018, at Cooperstown Center.

Born Sept. 3, 1929, in Brooklyn, Mary was the daughter of Alexander and Helen (Lynde) McNeil.

Raised in Brooklyn, she married a neighbor and childhood friend, her lifelong love, James Hill, on Dec. 14, 1947. Jim predeceased her in 2014.

Jim and Mary raised their family in Oakdale, Long Island.

Shortly after Jim’s retirement from Philip Morris in 1983 as director of marketing and finance, they moved to the Cooperstown area to be near their son, Jim, and his family.

On Long Island, Mary worked first as an AT&T switchboard operator and later as a school photographer going from school to school taking yearbook photographs. She also worked for a number of years at BOCES in Patchogue in the finance and payroll department.

In Cooperstown, Mary volunteered for many years at Bassett and was an active member of the Cooperstown Red Hats and the Otsego County Senior Citizens organization. Proud of her Scottish heritage, Mary also loved flower gardening and was an avid mystery reader.

Mary is survived by her son, James (Cynthia) Hill of Cooperstown; her son, Richard (Wanda) Hill of Massachusetts; and her daughter, Patricia Hill Gulotta (Sheldon Jacobson) of Burlington Flats; eight grandchildren, Kevyn (Albert) Piascik of Salisbury Mills, James Hill of Oneonta, Matthew (Andrianna) Gulotta of Hartwick, Chris (Abigail) Gulotta of Naugatuck, Connecticut, Sean (Elizabeth) Hill of Germany, Brianne Hill of Florida, Ryan (Janel) Hill of Ohio and Zachary Hill of Massachusetts. She is also survived by eight great-grandchildren; her brother, Peter (Gerry) McNeil of South Carolina; her childhood friend, Mildred Ennis; and her beloved cat, Oreo.

She was predeceased by her twin brother, Jack.

In accordance with Mary’s wishes, the celebration of her life will be private.

For those who so desire, Mary’s family suggests that donations be made in her memory to the Susquehanna Animal Shelter, 4841 State Highway 28, Cooperstown, NY 13326.

Arrangements are under the care of Tillapaugh Funeral Service, Cooperstown.