Ronald Conner Hillary

Ronald Conner Hillary, 81, of Cambria, California, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, August 12th, 2020, in Pittsboro, North Carolina.

Ron was born in Long Beach, California to Jack and Beryl Hillary. As a young man, he served in the US Navy before becoming an investigator with the Pasadena Police Department. Ron married his wife, Jill, in 1964 and they welcomed their daughter, Kristine, in 1967. During Ron’s thirty-year career with the police department he helped create the Police Explorers program for young people desiring a career in law enforcement. Additionally, he served as a counselor at a summer camp for at-risk youth. Ron also enjoyed singing in church and community choirs, and was an active member of the Cambria Lion’s Club. He enjoyed photography, and watching Formula One racing, as well as traveling, having made many trips to Europe and Hawaii. Upon retirement from the police force, Ron filled his time by working at Hearst Castle, and volunteering at the Discovery Center in San Simeon, and the Fiscalini Ranch Preserve in Cambria. In Ron’s later years, he suffered from Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD) which affected his affable personality but never his memory. He will be remembered for his friendliness, his kindness to others, and his corny jokes.

Ron is survived by Jill, his wife of nearly 56 years, his daughter Kristine Hillary and her husband Thomas Hauser of Durham, NC, and his brothers Thomas Hillary of Lucerne Valley, CA, and Tony Hillary of Northridge, CA.

The family would like to thank the staff of Brookdale Chapel Hill as well as the caregivers at the UNC SECU Jim and Betsy Bryan Hospice House.

As a lifetime advocate for civil rights, Ron would urge you to exercise your right to vote this November.

A celebration of life will be held at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the following charities which Ron held dear:

The Fiscalini Ranch Preserve in Cambria, CA
www.fiscaliniranchpreserve.org

Pacific Wildlife Care in Morro Bay, CA
www.pacificwildlifecare.org

The Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration
www.theaftd.org

The Hillary family is under the care of Hall-Wynne Funeral Service. Online condolences:
www.hallwynne.com