Michael G Hillier

It is with sadness that we announce the passing of Michael “Mike” Gordon Hillier. He leaves behind his beloved wife of almost 54 years, Barbara “Barb” (Thornton) of Akron, OH; children Jane (Sandip) Sahota of Oakville, ON, Canada and Richard (Kristeen Leone) of Summerville, SC; grandchildren Colby and Mariska Hillier and Ian and Claire Sahota; as well as his sister Diane (the late James) Macdonald of Englewood, NJ. Also dear to Mike were his sisters- and brothers-in law, nieces and nephews, extended family and many friends.

Mike was born and raised in Fostoria, OH by the late Claudia (McClellan) and Clarence “Shrimp” Hillier. Mike graduated from Fostoria High School where he played football and tennis and was noted for his uncanny ability in mathematics. He went on to Miami University (OH) where he majored in Chemistry and joined the Sigma Chi Fraternity.

Following university, Mike’s career in rubber and plastics took off with a job at Firestone in Akron, OH. In Akron he began his life-long love affair with both golf and his soon-to-be wife, Barb, whom he met at her family’s Turkeyfoot Lake Golf Links. A new position with H. Muehlstein sent the newlyweds to the Northeast where they settled into the lovely seacoast town of Scituate, MA to raise their family. In Scituate, Mike enjoyed sailing with his family and playing tennis and golf at Hatherly Country Club where he was a long-time member. In addition to his hobbies, Mike was a consummate businessman. He eventually parlayed his successful career in plastics into his dream of owning his own company, Polyshape. Barb and Mike spent 40 happy years in Scituate making many great friends and memories.

Upon retirement, Mike and Barb decided to return to their family seat in Portage Lakes (OH). Mike enjoyed restoring and puttering around the lakes on his prize-winning 1953 Chris Craft “woody” Mulligan and joining the Turkeyfoot Island Club where the couple loved to socialize. Mike’s favorite activity continued to be playing countless rounds of golf at Turkeyfoot, as well as through the Summit County Seniors and North Coast Traveling Golf Leagues in OH, and thanks to becoming snowbirds, throughout Sedona and Scottsdale, AZ as well. Mike’s proudest achievements were his family and shooting his age five times in the last two years from the back tees and making three holes in one!

At the age of 78, the perennially young Mike finally slowed down; he was ultimately diagnosed with stage 4 Pancreatic Cancer in October, 2019. He actively fought the disease in order to spend more quality time with his beloved family. Unfortunately COVID-19 had other plans, waylaying him during a hospital stay, and ensuring that his family could only connect with him virtually. Sadly Mike passed away - finally peaceful - on May 16th, 2020. It was a heart-breaking situation and Barb, Jane and Richard wish to thank family and friends, Heartland Hospice, the cancer care providers at Akron General Hospital, and Dr. Carrabine at the Oak Clinic for their compassion and support of the couple during these difficult times.

Due to the on-going Pandemic, a Celebration of Life for Mike will be held as soon as his family is able to finally be together. In the meantime, friends and family are encouraged to share memories and/or condolences here on the funeral home web-page. In addition, in lieu of flowers, for anyone wishing to make a gift in memory of Mike, funds are being collected to create a remembrance area for him at his beloved Turkeyfoot Golf Course, which was recently decimated by a series of tornadoes. Checks may be made out and sent to: Turkeyfoot Lake Golf Links, 294 W. Turkeyfoot Lake Rd, New Franklin, OH 44319; please put in the memo section: In Memory of Mike Hillier. Thank you.

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