Darryl Dewey Hilliard

1947 - 2023

STORRS

Darryl Dewey Hilliard, 75, passed away peacefully in the Vanderman Place Nursing Home from pneumonia and other complications on January 15, 2023. Darryl was born on June6, 1947, to Dewey and Alice Hilliard of Hackensack, New Jersey.

As a young man Darryl enjoyed the outdoors and belonged to a ski club, skiing the slopes around the country. He shared his parents and brothers love of music, playing the trombone in the New Jersey Allstate Band and the church band and also playing the piano and guitar. His love of music was evidenced by his immense CD, and cassette collection.

Darryl graduated from Hackensack High School in 1965 and Monmouth Universityin 1971. He also earned a Masters in Business Administration from Rutgers University.

Darryl's business career included working in executive marketing positions in companies in New York State, North Carolina and Indiana before later residing in Teaneck, NJ and finally in Storrs, Ct. The marketing positions included Fortune 500 Companies such as Proctor and Gamble, Beatrice Foods and Mobil Oil. He was responsible for development and overall profit and loss for nationally advertised brands such as Hanes Hosiery, Hefty Bags, B & B Mushrooms and

many others. In his later years, Darryl was Transportation Coordinator for the Commission of the Blind for the State of New Jersey and Materials Manager for Greystone Hospital in New Jersey.

During these turbulent, unrestful, chaotic, and unjust times in the 1970's and beyond, Darryl was in the forefront of leading companies in accepting a diversified and inclusive workforce at the executive level. He promoted the opening up of new opportunities for African Americans, women, ethnic minorities and those from diverse religious cultures.

Darryl's other accomplishments concerning civil rights included working to force the State of Indiana to become more inclusive in school bussing of black children.

He also attended the March on Washington for black civil rights, and worked with the local Democratic Committee.

He always cared for those less fortunate and was an active volunteer in every location in which he resided. In New Jersey, those activities included volunteering at Hackensack Hospital and serving as the Outreach Board Chairman at Cresskill Congregational Church.

In 2015 he and his partner, Katherine, moved to Storrs, Ct. to be in between families near Boston and Long Island and also to enjoy the retirement life near the UCONN campus. In Storrs, Darryl was a very active part of the Storrs Congregational Church, serving on the Board and the Just Peace Team. Church Outreach activities included delivering donations of food from local groceries to the Covenant Soup Kitchen in Willimantic and also delivering clothing and donations to the Windham Area Interfaith Ministry, also in Willimantic. Darryl was an active member of the Sun Communities mobile home park. As a member of the Mansfield Senior Center he delivered Meals on Wheels and was a passionate participant in the Woodcarving group.

Darryl is survived by his loving partner of 30 years, Katherine Lindner; his daughter, Kathryn Hilliard Dolcine, her husband, Les and grandson, Jackson Dolcine; his son, Christopher Hilliard, grandchildren, Marc, Christopher Jr, and DiNiesha Hilliard and great-grandson, Cassius; his former wife, Jan Hilliard; and his brother, Ronald and wife, Vera Hilliard, along with numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.

He was a beloved member of Katherine's family, son, Dr. Ethan Cerami and Amy Orsenigo, children, Lily and Eddie Cerami, daughter, Dr. Carla Cerami and her children, William and Sophia Hand.

There will be a Memorial Service at the Storrs Congregational Church on Sunday, March 12th at 2:00, followed by a reception, which will also be online by visiting www.storrscongchurch.org and clicking on ACCESS OUR ONLINE WORSHIP.

In lieu of flowers, donations would be greatly appreciated for the Storrs Congregational Church food pantry. You can make a check to Storrs Congregational Church, 2 N. Eagleville Rd. Storrs, Ct. 06268. Write food pantry on the bottom line.

You can share condolences to Katherine Lindner at kathyartist72@gmail.com and Kathryn Hilliard Dolcine at khilliard33@hotmail.com.

Darryl Dewey Hilliard