Paul Hill

1954 - 2023

Groton - With deep sorrow, the Hill/Cote family announce the recent passing of our brother Paul after a long struggle with the disease of alcoholism. Let there be no blame or judgement. He was a kind and sensitive soul with a terrible illness.

Paul was the youngest of four Hill children, born in Westerly, R.I., Jan. 18, 1954, to the late Fred and Ida Hill. He grew up in North Stonington and was a student at Wheeler Schools and Norwich Free Academy. In high school he shone quietly as a cross country star and in his senior year was one of the team captains. At UConn he majored in Chemistry and went on to have a long career as a chemist at Pfizer in Groton.

Paul was a scientist who also loved biology and botany. He especially liked growing dahlias and primroses. He was a fisherman from an early age, learning from our dad, Fred Hill. Like Fred, he was passionate about trout fishing, tramping into the woods alone, enjoying the silence and peace he found there. He loved animals, especially cats and owned several during his life, including Princess, Ketha, Titan, and Mia, a stray he rescued from a snowstorm.

Paul was a man of few words, but he was the funniest one in our family with a quick dry wit he maintained until the end. He was tall and handsome, athletic and fun. This is how we'll remember him.

He leaves behind his sisters, Kathie Cote and Barbara Hill; his brothers, Brian Hill, Hilaire Cote, and Jimmy Kloczko. He was close to his nephews Adam Cote and wife Susan, Steve Cote, and the late Samuel Cote. He had life-long friends who will miss him along with his family.

There will be no calling hours. All are welcome to join us at a service of remembrance at 11 a.m. Saturday Nov. 4, at the First Baptist Church of North Stonington, 793 Pendleton Hill Road. Burial will be handled by the Cremation Society of Connecticut.