Jim Hilton

Jim (James) Arthur Hilton

Jim Hilton's energy and enthusiasm for life was evident from the very moment he came into the world on May 27, 1954. He was the son of Phyllis Keene Hilton and Frederick Arthur Hilton both from Maine.

He was an inspiration and a light - more like a blowtorch- to kindle the light in many people. He is survived by his loving wife Pamela Nelson Hilton, two sisters, Margaret Elizabeth dEntremont (Chuck), Catherine Lynne Johnson (Joel), and 10 children: Heather Marie Kern, Jason Matthew Kern, Jeremy Arthur Hilton, Heather Anne Bird, Theresa Hilton Takushi, Nicholas Clark Littlefield, Joshua Sanchez Hilton, Evan Vasudev Hilton, Rosadelia Sanchez Myers, Caitlyn Hilton DesRoches, and nineteen grandchildren. All were blessed by his love, devotion and passion for fun. He died peacefully at home on December 12, 2025.

More than anything, his love for Jesus Christ gave him the strength to love and be present with those around him.

Jim served as an elder at Durham Evangelical Church. His hope was to encourage and disciple young men and to assist in small group ministry.

Jim had an enthusiasm that was larger than life, and was a master at building community. Whether through church small groups or conducting one of his many Guinness Book of World Record events in St. Albans, VT - Jim knew how to bring people together to do good and give back to others - and have fun doing it! Jim saw that in a world full of distraction, recreation and leisure were important for people of all ages - from the youngest children to the elderly. We all need a place to gather as a community and have fun, and Jim took it upon himself to make that a reality for so many communities.

Jim was known for living his life large. His early career accomplishments include many world's largest records like the world's largest snowman, scarecrow, and pancake in Saint Albans, Vermont. His masterful coordination with people allowed him to also achieve the world's largest ice cream sundae in collaboration with Ben & Jerry's ice cream.

Jim was a Recreation Director in St. Albans, Vermont; Carrabassett Valley, Maine, and for 27 years in Newmarket, New Hampshire where he coordinated the construction of the Newmarket Recreation Center and the Sunrise Sunset Senior Center, athletic fields, and a premier recreation department.

As a professor at the University of New Hampshire, he inspired the next generation of recreation directors to follow in his footsteps. He received the University of New Hampshire Recreation Management and Policy Hall of Fame Award for his contributions to recreation throughout New England.

Jim won many awards for his accomplishments in recreation, including the Teresa S. Brungardt Award, the highest honor bestowed by the Vermont Recreation and Parks Association honoring exceptional contributions to parks and recreation. He also received the Citizen of the Year Award in New Hampshire and Young Man of the Year in Vermont.

Jim loved his family, playing the guitar and singing uplifting music, fishing, reading books about gardening, and having adventures with friends and family.

Visiting hours with family will be held at Kent & Pelczar Funeral Home & Crematory, 77 Exeter Road (Route 108), Newmarket New Hampshire on Tuesday, December 16 from 4 to 7 p.m.

The funeral service will be held at Durham Evangelical Church on Wednesday December 17, 2025 at 4 PM.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to Autism Alliance in memory of Jim Hilton. www.autismalliance.org