Ann Mayer Hiller

Ann Mayer Hiller 10/8/1927 - 1/17/2014 Ann passed away peacefully in her home, with her family by her side, at the age of 86, having lived a full, generous and productive life. Born in Evanston, Illinois. Ann loved her time on her family's farm, where she rode horseback, tended the Holstein cows, drove trucks and manuvered tractors. Ann had a lifelong interest in Hopi and Navajo cultures. Ann's interest in native cultures carried through her life as she later volunteered with the Tongva-Gabrielino Foundation's preservation and restoration efforts of the Kuruvungna Springs at University High School in West Los Angeles. Education was of lasting importance to Ann. College found her at the experimental Black Mountain College in North Carolina from 1945 to 1947 where she took classes taught by Joseph and Ani Albers and studied with John Walton. She learned to operate a printing press and do plumbing repair as part of the school's work program. Ann's focus then turned to the National College of Education, in Illinois, which she attended on a scholarship. After earning her Bachelors of Education in 1950, Ann taught fifth grade. Ann was married to Wally Hiller for many years beginning in 1950. They moved to Los Angeles in 1954 with their two year old son, Peter while she was pregnant with her first daughter, Julie. Ann's interest in teaching continued briefly as she worked as an aid in a kindergarten classroom in South-Central Los Angeles. Soon to follow was another son, Tom, and a second daughter, Cindy. Ann's deep and lasting interest in politics went back to her high school days when she campaigned for Paul Douglas and Adlai Stevenson. She recalled the great patriotism of WW II, and she remembered serving food to soldiers at Fort Sheridan, north of Chicago. She bought and sold war bonds to support the war effort and fostered a lifelong admiration of Eleanor Roosevelt and Amelia Earhart. Politics was a way of life for Ann as she worked on countless humanitarian and Democratic causes throughout her life. Once her children were settled in school, Ann went to work for the ACLU Police Malpratice Complaint Board in Venice, California. Ann volunteered for several years for former California State Senator Tom Hayden, and went on to become Constituant Services Director for Hayden in his West Los Angeles field office. Ann was acknowledged in April 2000 by the Legislature of the State of California as Woman of the Year , "in recognition of her outstanding service and dedication to the people of the State of California". As human rights were always on her mind, she worked for Local 814 in an effort to achieve decent living wages for hotel workers. This particular cause found her being arrested, at age 75, while participating in a non-violent demonstration for hotel workers in Santa Monica. The story of Ann's life is not complete without sharing the generous spirit in which she lived. From handing out food at her back door to the downtrodden during the tough years of the Depression, to supporting numerous Native American causes, she was generous to her core. Her legacy of service lives on in the efforts of her children and grandchildren. Ann's family was always foremost in her heart. She is survived by her four children, ten grandchildren and five great grandchildren. Peter Hiller, his wife Celeste Williams, of Carmel, CA. their children Sam, fiancee Aleisha, and Jake; Julie Nagel and her husband Marty of West Hills, CA., and their daughter, Shayna; Tom Hiller and his wife Suanne of Fortuna, CA. and their children Shawn and his wife Stacey and children Hailee, Haven and Cash; Mike and his wife, Sarah; James and his wife, Jennifer and their children Claire and Calvin; Joey and Andy; and Cindy Hansen with her husband Tim of Ventura, CA. and their children, Nathan and Franklin. Ann was preceded in death by former husband Walter N. Hiller, Jr., her father Herbert Mayer, her mother Marion Goodman, step-father Max Becker, Jr., and her sister, Shirley Ruwitch. Ann's wishes were to have her ashes scattered by her family. In lieu of flowers, a contribution to Liberty Hill Foundation, the ACLU, or the Progressive Democrats of America would be in keeping with Ann's wishes. A celebration of Ann's life will take place on February 15 at 11:00 A.M. at the Tongva-Gabrielino Springs Foundation's Kuruvungna Springs Cultural Center and Museum in West Los Angeles. Please sign the guestbook at www.times-standard.comand click on obits.