Edwin Prece Hill

Edwin Prece Hill, April 3, 1930 - September 14, 2023. Age 93. Ed grew up in the Texas panhandle in a Methodist family that taught him self-reliance and service to others. He attended McMurray College in Abilene, Texas, and later University of Texas Southwestern Medical School in Dallas, Texas, earning an MD in 1956. Immediately after graduating medical school he relocated to the Los Angeles area, where he interned at the Wadsworth Veteran's Administration Hospital for a year, followed by an Internal Medicine residency there for an additional year. After practicing for two years, Ed returned to the Veteran's Administration Hospital to complete a three-year revolving residency, and then in 1963 he began full-time practice as an ophthalmologist in Beverly Hills for a span of 38 years. He became Board Certified in Ophthalmology in 1966. In his practice, Ed took excellent care of a diverse population of patients, in some cases including three generations of the same family as well as Hollywood stars and entertainment industry moguls. He retired at age 70.

During his long and prolific practice, Ed took on additional responsibilities, including being a Senior Attending at St. John's Hospital (now Providence Hospital) and Cedar-Sinai Hospital, and an Associate Clinical Professor at UCLA's Jules Stein Eye Institute. He was Chief of the Department of Ophthalmology at St. John's from 1978 to 1982, and President of the Los Angeles Society of Ophthalmology from 1981 to 1982. Ed was also a dedicated teacher. He taught ophthalmology residents for 26 years as an Associate Clinical Professor at Jules Stein. For 12 years at St. John's he taught a monthly course on two modern ophthalmology techniques, phacoemulsification and lens implantation, that he used regularly as an eye surgeon to replace the lenses of patients' eyes clouded by cataracts. He also taught these techniques nationally through the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

Ed generously donated his time and skills to teach ophthalmic surgery in Russia, India, Mexico and Zimbabwe. He also donated considerable time and money to organizations that served mentally and physically disabled people, an undertaking dear to his heart, as his daughter Julie suffers from cerebral palsy. He served on the board of three of these organizations.

Ed is survived by his partner and wife of 39 years, Claire Rothman, with whom he shared many happy years in retirement traveling and enjoying each other's family and friends. Indeed, Ed and Claire often drew complements from complete strangers due to the love for each other that they radiated. Ed is also survived by his daughters Julie Hill and Laurie Hill, two step-children, Barry Rothman and Karen Rothman, three step-grandchildren, Nicholas Rothman, Ari Weinryt and Jared Weinryt, and five step-great grandchildren, Sophie Rothman, Emma Rothman, Damien Weinryt, Lucien Weinryt, and Emanuel Weinryt, as well as beloved nieces, nephews and cousins descended from his siblings. He was predeceased by his son, Christopher.

Ed was loving, optimistic and multi-talented. Despite his many accomplishments, he remained humble, appreciative of others and true to his upbringing. He was an accomplished sculptor and a superb player of the piano and harpsichord. He brightened the lives of all whose paths he crossed. He is sorely missed.