Tracey Ann Hilfman

News Death Notice

HILFMAN, Tracey Ann Born in Dayton, Ohio, on February 17, 1959, Tracey Ann Hilfman passed away peacefully on the morning of October 14 at the Methodist Hospital in Houston, loved ones at her side, after a determined three-year battle against breast cancer. Tracey spent her childhood years in Medway, Ohio. She graduated with a B.A. degree in industrial psychology from The Ohio State University in 1983. Tracey started as a flight attendant at People Express and then showed off her managerial talents as a Human Resources professional at Continental Airlines, Southwest Airlines, Shell Oil Company and Administaff over the next twenty years. She was very proud of her SHRM membership and certification as a staffing and recruiting specialist. She began dating Dave Hilfman in 1995-after he had "chased her for five years." Dave finally proposed marriage on the Pont Neuf bridge in Paris in June 1999, followed by a spectacular wedding on August 26, 2000, at the Grand Wailea Resort in Maui, attended by the couple's family and close friends. On June 4, 2003, Tracey and Dave's greatest accomplishment arrived on the planet-their wonderful son Marshall. From that date forward, Tracey became a perennial winner of "Best Mom on Earth" to Marshall, adding to her "Best Wife on Earth" title to Dave. She effortlessly built a beautiful home and life for her husband and son, a particularly challenging task given Dave's globetrotting as a sales executive for Continental Airlines. With the snap of her fingers or by simply pointing, she could seize everyone's attention. Tracey was a beautiful, generous and inquisitive woman, with a playful sense of humor, who treasured time spent with family and friends. Her gentle kindness made everyone she encountered feel relevant, and she truly imprinted love on all of our souls. She had a "ferocious heart" and was extraordinarily devoted to taking care of her "two boys." Tracey truly loved her "Mommy" role and delighted in helping out Marshall at his school-The Post Oak School-with classroom projects like preparing photo albums, planting flower gardens, and reading to the children. A lively correspondent, she sent amazingly detailed holiday letters. She created a Hilfman Family website and wrote a touching poem for Marshall called How Much Do You Love Me? She was even becoming fluent in Spanish. She enjoyed occasional trips with Dave and Marshall, particularly relishing their vacation home in Coronado, CA, where they all enjoyed the famous San Diego Zoo, SeaWorld and Legoland. Her strong faith and the steadfast love and support of Dave, Marshall, family members who looked after her--particularly Aunt LeeAnn, Aunt Cindi, Grandma Barb, Grandma Babe, and Aunt Wendy--and a multitude of friends sustained her. "I'm fine," she would always reassure her mother and sister. She joked that treatments only made her slightly spacier than before. Lexie, the beloved family labradoodle, is puzzled by her absence. As Marshall once observed: "Mom, you know what is REALLY important? It's important that we all love the world." That's how Tracey lived her life, and we'll miss her immeasurably. In addition to Dave and Marshall Hilfman, she is survived by her mother, Barbara Ciani; stepfather, Michael Ciani; sister, Lisa Young; and brother, Steven Young. She was preceded in death by her father, John Young. Donations in lieu of flowers can be made to Golfers Against Cancer (Tracey was a board member), 1700 Lake Kingwood Trail, Kingwood, TX 77339. Online donations at www.golfersagainstcancer.org (note "in memory of Tracey Hilfman" in comments section).