Elgar R. Hill

Elgar R Hill 81, passed away on January 27, 2009 at the VA Hospice Care Center in Palo Alto; his son and daughter were at his side. Elgar was born in Cloverdale, CA. He graduated from Cloverdale High School and attended one year at UC Berkeley before serving in the US Army at Camp Beale, CA during WWII. After the war ended, Elgar transferred to Cal Poly San Luis Obispo where he received a Bachelor's degree in Architecture. During the 1960s, he worked as an architect at Anshen and Allen, Reid and Tarics, and Rockrise and Watson in San Francisco. Elgar's love of nature as well as his interest in solar energy design led him to graduate school at the College of Environmental Design, UC Berkeley, where he received a Master's Degree in Landscape Architecture and Environmental Design in 1972. Elgar co-founded the environmental design section of the College of Architecture and Environmental Design at Cal Poly SLO and then established his own environmental consulting business in Sausalito, and later in several locations in Sonoma County. After retiring to Healdsburg and then Willits, he spent many happy and fulfilled years enjoying landscapes and nature, cooking and gardening, sports, and current events. Above all, Elgar was a wonderful friend, father, and grandfather. He is survived by daughter Helen Hill (Ron Hurlburt) of Homer, AK; son Daniel Hill (Lisa) and granddaughters Alice and Charlotte of Portola Valley; sister-in-law Marie Hill and nephew James Hill of Cloverdale, CA; and brother-in-law John Whitney of El Cajon, CA. Predeceased by parents Rufus and Kathleen Hill, brother Harold Hill, and son Peter Hill. Sadly, niece Kathy Hill passed away on April 19, 2009. A Memorial Service followed by reception will be held at the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd, 122 N Main St, Cloverdale, CA, on May 25, at 5:00 pm. Donations may be made to an environmental non-profit of choice, or the VA Hospice Care Center in Palo Alto (attn: Sheila Kennedy).