William John Hilbrink

1928 - 2022

Hilbrink

William John Hilbrink

William John Hilbrink, 94, died peacefully at home, October 30, 2022 with his beloved wife, Patricia, by his side. He was born June 16, 1928 in Cleveland, Ohio to William and Caroline Hilbrink. He graduated from Collinwood High School in 1946. He was inducted into the Collinwood High School Hall of Fame at a special ceremony conducted by the Council of the City of Cleveland on May 5, 2010 for his service, leadership and career achievements in the field of music. Ohio Senator George Voinovich formally recognized the achievement in the United States Senate on May 5, 2010. Bill enlisted in the U.S. Army after high school and served with the U.S. Army Strings and Orchestra, a premier ensemble of the U.S. Armed Forces that provides a musical backdrop for many of the country's most notable events. After discharge from the U.S. Army, he attended Baldwin Wallace Conservatory - Berea, Ohio, earning a BA in music education with a major in violin. It was here that Bill met the love of his life, Patricia Schultz. They married after graduation in 1955. Bill was a member of Phi Mu Sinfonia music fraternity. He won a scholarship to Eastman School of Music, Rochester, New York, and earned a master's in music with a major in violin. His first teaching position was as a violin instructor at MacMurray College - Jacksonville, Illinois. He taught violin, music theory and conducted the college orchestra. He was also Concert Master of the Springfield, Illinois Symphony orchestra. He and wife, Pat, welcomed their two children, Holly and Mark, while living in Jacksonville. The family moved to Greensboro, NC, where Bill accepted a position at the University of North Carolina teaching music theory and conducting the college orchestra. After five years, they moved to Fairfax County, Virginia, where Bill was one of the original 12 string teachers in the county. He taught at Lake Anne Elementary School, Germantown Elementary School, Oak View Elementary School, and was the first orchestra director at James W. Robinson Secondary School. Bill was a freelance violinist, member and contractor of a regularly performing string quartet, and concertmaster and assistant director of the Fairfax Symphony Orchestra. Known for his expertise, he was a musician's union freelance violinist and performed with the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Orchestra, the National Theatre Orchestra and the Wolf Trap Center for the Performing Arts. Bill was a devoted member of the Fairfax United Methodist Church and often played the violin for services. In 1993, Bill was honored to be included in the Dictionary of International Biography. In 2020, he was recognized with the Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award for his achieved career longevity and demonstration of unwavering excellence in his field. Bill was a man of many talents. He remodeled the entire family home and built a large workshop to house his extensive woodworking and metal working tools. He was so proud of his massive model railroad complete with bridges, tunnels, landscaped villages as well as panoramas professionally painted on the walls depicting important places from his life. Bill was predeceased by his parents, William and Caroline Hilbrink; sister Norma Schudy; and his son, Mark Hilbrink. Bill is survived by his adoring wife, Patricia; daughter, Holly Jorgensen (Doug Kinzy); daughter-in-law, Marcy Hilbrink; granddaughters, Carina Roth and Mary Hilbrink; sister-in-law, Carol Weinhofer (Harry); niece, Lynn Schneider (Rich), and many more relatives and friends who loved him dearly. Celebration of life will be at Fairfax United Methodist Church, Stratford Avenue, Fairfax, VA on Saturday, November 19, 2022 at 11 a.m. Contributions in his memory may be made to the Fairfax United Methodist Church.