John Robert Hillman

John Robert Hillman, age 74, died Sunday, December 7, 2025, at Henry Ford Providence Hospital of Southfield, Michigan surrounded by loving family.
John was a loving and much beloved husband, father, brother, uncle, and friend.
From a young age, John had a strong interest in golf. During high school, he was a National Merit Scholar and the golf team's Most Valuable Player. With top grades (Taylor Kennedy High School Salutatorian 1969) and these honors, he earned a golf scholarship to Oakland University where he played on the golf team from freshman year until graduation.
John graduated from Oakland University with a Bachelor of Science in Physics and began teaching for Bloomfield Hills Schools in 1974 (Andover High School and later Lahser). Soon after, he earned a Master's of Science in Physics from Eastern Michigan University. While teaching, he continued to share his love of golf through coaching. He coached one team to a state championship and was later named Michigan High School Athletic Association Coach of the Year in 1992.
A great golfer in his own right, John shot two holes in one, one being a three hundred and twelve yard Double Eagle. He enjoyed playing in scrambles and other local tournaments. In the Parent Child Scramble at Kensington Metro Park, he and daughter Catherine (Cat) took first place.
John met his wife, Dena, while they were both attending Oakland University. He tried in vain to tutor her in physics but managed to win her heart and the two married in 1976.
Beyond golf, John loved model trains and to learn about other cultures. Travel and education were often combined to make for some very wonderful trips and for hosting exchange students and teachers.
As a dedicated teacher who enjoyed his students, he loved seeing them excited about physics. He was very grateful and sometimes awed to teach so many brilliant kids who went on to successful careers.
John was granted a sabbatical to study geothermal power plants in New Zealand. Accompanied by his wife, this was one of three NZ visits traveling the islands by camper van and doing farm stays. They went on to continue their camper van adventures in Australia.
John bravely brought twenty-two month old daughter, Catherine, to Japan by himself to visit Dena while she studied Japanese with The Japan Foundation. They visited again when Cat was four. He loved to travel to Mexico, especially the Yucatan. He learned to love garlic shrimp in Spain, and the joy of freshly caught Maine lobster dockside. He loved roadtrips and the family visited much of the United States and Canada.
The couple welcomed daughter Catherine in 1993 while building their home in Highland Township. Always wanting to do the best for his family, John went to classes to earn a builder's license so that he could have a more hands on experience during construction. The Highland property has been home to many cats over the years and two goats. John loved fishing from the dock, an occasional swim, and an easy paddle around the little lake in the canoe.
John retired from teaching in 2014 after a bout with lymphoma. He remained in remission until he was diagnosed with Large B Cell Lymphoma and HLH at the beginning of October, 2025.
He will be remembered as a genuinely good person of great integrity and quiet manner.
John is survived by his wife Dena; daughter Cat (Skylar Rotolo-Griffis); brother Jim (Jackie); sister Nancy Jarvis; nieces and nephews Rob Wilkerson (Stephanie), Ryan Hillman, and Tegan-Jean Hillman (Virginia); and many friends.
No service has been scheduled at this time. Charitable donations may be made in his name to American Cancer Society https://www.cancer.org/ or any of your preferred organizations.