Robert Austin Hillery

1928 - 2018

Robert (Bob) Austin Hillery

Cathedral City - Robert (Bob) Austin Hillery, age 89, passed away on March 27, 2018. A Pioneer and First Elected Mayor of Cathedral City, CA.

He was born on December 14, 1928 in Los Angeles. His early years were spent In the Hollywood area in a home occupied by five aunts and his mother.



In 1932 Bob moved to Cathedral City which became his home and destiny.



Growing up, he attended school in Palm Springs as Cathedral City did not have a school. Students were picked up each day by a resident who drove them to school as transportation was limited. The first elementary school in Cathedral City followed in 1940.



Growing up in the "Village" had it challenges. Population was small so the children learned how to entertain themselves by hiking the hills and canyons, chasing ground squirrels, bicycle riding and sneaking away to the local pond for a swim. Bob knew everyone and soon got the job of delivering The Desert Sun and reading water meters.



Bob adored his father Willard Hillery who worked on many projects that benefit Cathedral City today. His father requested three goals from Bob as a young man. Become an Eagle Scout, earn a college degree and wear your rank on your shoulder. Bob fulfilled the wishes of his father.



Bob became a Boy Scout earning the Eagle Scout and Silver Beaver. Bob lived by the scout motto "On my honor I will do my best to do my duty to GOD and my country, and to obey the Scout Law". Bob lived by this creed all his life as his friends will tell you a simple hand shake meant his word.



As a very young man he volunteered along with other villagers to track aircraft and were assigned this task through the Ground Observation Corps.

Bob attended San Diego State University where he received his degree in Business and shortly after graduation he enlisted in the Army, attending OTC where he was commissioned as a 2 nd Lieutenant and assigned to the Pentagon during the Korean conflict.



Returning to Cathedral City after his discharge. he returned to school to become a CLU with Hartford/Connecticut insurance, was appointed A California Inheritance Tax Appraiser, Riverside County and was active in many organizations including the Chamber of Commerce, Palm Springs Art Museum, Cathedral City Historical Society, elected to Cathedral City Council and was active in the Cathedral City Presbyterian Church to name a few.



His one desire was to write a history about Cathedral City because there was not much known. With records kept by his father and with the first-hand knowledge he wrote his book "Cathedral City The Early Years 1925-1981" published in 2015. This book shows the love and history of what he fondly called "his City".



Bob was a true historian who loved to travel, entertain and read Shakespeare. His favorite quote which he recited frequently "the past is of great importance because it defines the present and therefore sets the state for the future"(paraphrased).



Bob married his friend, partner and love Kay in 1989. With this union he inherited two step-children Daniel Trout, his spouse Sheri, Penni Moulton her spouse Perry and a granddaughter Autumn who loved her Pappa.



With special thanks for the wonderful care in his final days, we thank Britannia Lodge, Richard, Patricia and Joey Hounsell and his hospice nurse Julia Butler.

Services will be private. In lieu of flowers please donate to the Cathedral City Historical Society in Bob's name. A celebration of life will be scheduled at a later date.



The irony of Bob's passing is he was the First Elected Mayor and the current Mayor Mr. Stan Henry will be the last elected Mayor.