Beloved matriarch, sports fan, car connoisseur

Longtime Claremont resident Dolores Joan Hill died peacefully on Thursday, September 26 in her home less than two weeks after celebrating her 92nd birthday.

Mrs. Hill was the wife of former Claremont broadcaster (Focus 91711, Quakes Dugout Show, Inland Empire Sports Scene) Jim Hill, who died on July 4, 2003.

Mrs. Hill was born on September 14, 1921 in Minot, North Dakota where she was adopted by her parents, Jerome and Flora Hoch. She grew up in Bauer, Iowa and graduated from high school in Des Moines, Iowa.

She worked in the Des Moines police department vice squad where she met Mr. Hill, who was a police reporter for a local newspaper. They married in 1943 and lived in Des Moines until 1960, when they moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin. In the 1970s, they bought a home in Sun Lakes, Arizona and then moved to Claremont in 1988 to help raise their grandsons. 

Mrs. Hill was active around Claremont, attending school events and local AYSO, Little League and Claremont Youth Basketball games. She was a car enthusiast who made sure she got a new model every few years and enjoyed nothing more than going for a long drive. In fact, Mrs. Hill drove up until New Years Eve last year. She was also a big Dodgers fan, loved Pixie donuts, read the COURIER every week and enjoyed dining out and drinking beer.

Mrs. Hill is survived by her four sons and their partners, Michael and Judith Hill of New York City, Robert and Joan Hill of St. Petersburg, Florida, James Hill, Jr. and Sherri Shell of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and Thomas Hill and Lynda Talve of Claremont. She leaves her three Claremont grandsons, Alec of Brooklyn, New York, Daniel of Seattle, Washington and Garett, a student at UC Santa Barbara. She was also blessed with two step-grandchildren and three step-great-grandchildren.

A private memorial service will be held over Thanksgiving weekend. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that donations be made in Dolores Hill’s name to VNA & Hospice of Southern California, 150 W. First St., Suite 270, Claremont, CA 91711.