Robert E. Hillman

Robert E. Hillman, 78 Of Belmont passed away on January 4, 2016 following complications from a fall he suffered in November 2014. Born in Fall River, Bob was the son of Jewish Latvian immigrant parents. H e attended the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and, after joining the intercollegiate debate team, found the passion for intellectual sparring that would drive his stellar legal career. After Harvard Law School, Bob joined Fish & Richardson, which was then a small Boston law firm with 11 attorneys. Bob became the architect of Fishs transformation into a premier national intellectual property and litigation firm with 12 offices, 350 attorneys, and a global practice. Bob recruited the best and the brightest with his ability to inspire teamwork and to motivate others with his vision for greatness. A brilliant and creative thinker, Bobs ability to parse the most complicated legal issues was as renowned as his skill at dismantling an opponents argument with a surgeons precision. As Bob built a successful career as a highly sought-after patent attorney and firm leader, he met Gail Kaplan, who became his wife and soul mate. Gail cared for Bob around the clock for more than 14 months at the end of his life and her fierce commitment to Bob during his difficult last year spoke of their deep and enduring love. Bob was an exceptionally talented trial lawyer who won cases involving complex technology in federal courts across the United States. Another of Bob's gifts was playing piano. He would sit down and improvise the most beautiful music imaginable. He always said if not for his passion for patent law, he would have loved to be a pianist. He was a gardener whose playground was the three acres at his and Gail's home. Digging in the earth and creating beauty with the fruit trees, vegetables, and multiple flower beds brought peace into his life. In addition to his wife Gail, Bob leaves two sons, Matthew and his wife Susie of Seattle and Timothy Murley of Brookline, a daughter Elizabeth of Framingham, two grandchildren, Jonah and Audrey, and a brother Kenneth and his wife Jackie of New Jersey and Scottsdale, AZ, and their three daughters, Beth, Marcy, and Sheryl. No funeral is planned; a celebration of Bobs life will be announced later. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Brain Injury Association of Massachusetts, 30 Lyman Street, Ste. 10, Westborough, MA 01581, www. biama.org. For guestbook please visit www.BrascoFuneralHome.com.