A beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother and friend passed away from brain cancer Saturday, Feb. 14, 2015, in Salt Lake City.
Rick was born April 5, 1948, in Eagle, Idaho, to Raymond and Esther Hill. His family moved to Lewiston in Rick's youth, where he attended school before graduating from Lewiston High School in 1966. Rick was known for his engaging sense of humor and kindness to all as well as a love of sports, particularly youth sports. Rick attended Lewis-Clark State College briefly before transferring to Boise State University, graduating, as he liked to quip, after cramming four years of college into five and a half. He married his wife of 40-plus years, Denise, in June of 1974 in Kellogg, Idaho, where he taught high school and coached a number of sports before taking teaching and coaching jobs in Meridian, Idaho, Kuna, Idaho, and Post Falls, Idaho. In the latter town, he and Denise had two sons before moving to the Spokane Valley when Rick switched careers. He would spend the next 30 years selling athletic equipment and uniforms throughout Washington, Idaho and Oregon, during which he moved back to his boyhood home of Lewiston in 1997.
After retirement in 2012, he and his wife relocated to Salt Lake City, where his oldest son, Andy, moved while following his dad's path as a coach. Never one to sit idle, Rick took a job in retirement working athletic field maintenance at the University of Utah. Those who knew him would not be surprised, as he took great pride in his lawn work throughout his life. Of the many roles that Rick played in life, perhaps his true passion was being involved in sports in any and all capacities. He coached youth baseball and basketball throughout his life, a love he continued by coaching his grandson, Garrett, in both sports up until his battle with cancer prevented him from doing so. And he volunteered in numerous capacities, from working track meets to assisting with ticket sales and fundraising.
Ever the teacher and coach, Rick's battle with cancer serves as a lesson in life of the power of love and support of those you touch, as Rick's friends and family were, and continue to be, comforted by so many whom Rick encountered throughout this life.
Rick is survived by his wife, Denise Ann (Rinaldi) Hill, and her parents, Don and Rose Rinaldi; his two children: oldest son Andy and wife Skye and son Garrett, and his youngest son, Aaron; as well as his siblings: brother Charles (Corky) and his wife Francie Hill; sister Sandy and her husband, Larry Peck; sister Jackie and her husband, Bill Ringo; brother Terry; sister Rebecca (Becky) and her husband, John Cowan; brother Vince Rinaldi and his wife, Jill; brother Mayo Rinaldi; brother Tony Rinaldi and his wife, Karin; and sister Bridget Stewart and her husband, Don. He will be missed by numerous nieces, nephews and friends as well.
A celebration of Rick's life will be held at 6 p.m. Tuesday at Salt Lake City's Market Street Grill, 2985 E. Cottonwood Parkway. A celebration in his hometown of Lewiston will be held May 30.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made either to an endowment in Rick's name at Lewis-Clark State College, Warrior Athletic Association Endowment, in memory of Rick Hill, 500 Eighth Ave., Lewiston, ID 83501; to the Huntsman Cancer Foundation, Patient Care Donations, 500 Huntsman Way, Salt Lake City, UT 84108; or the Silver Valley Cancer Resource Center, 208 Oregon St., Kellogg, ID 83837.
Online condolences may be offered to the family at www.starksfuneral.com.
