On March 1, 2021, Gregory Joseph (“Greg”) Hill passed away peacefully with family by his side after a long illness. He was 64 years old.
Greg was born and raised in the Belvidere section of Lowell, MA, and was educated in the Lowell public school system. He went on to graduate with honors from the University of Lowell and earn his MBA with honors from Babson University.
He worked in operations for Cambridge Tool & Manufacturing for many years, before moving to California to work as a comptroller for US Can & Steel and Yamaha, Inc.
From an early age, Greg was recognized as a gifted athlete who grew to compete at a high level in three sports.
Baseball was his first love, earning a coveted spot on the Northeast Baseball League Championship team, coached by legendary high school coach, George Cunha. Greg was a catcher with a cannon for an arm and known to be a power hitter, batting cleanup on both his summer and varsity high school teams.
While a student at Lowell High School, Greg was recruited by pro scouts for baseball, was captain of the varsity basketball team, and, in an odd turn of events, was awarded a college football scholarship. Greg’s family remembers with amusement how his mother would not allow Greg to play football growing up. Finally, in his senior year of high school, she relented and gave Greg permission to try out for the team, figuring that, since he had never played before, he probably would not make the varsity squad.
Unfortunately for his Mom, Greg not only made the team, he started at defensive end and in that one season earned a Division 1 college scholarship in football! He played one season at University of Connecticut before suffering an injury and returning home to study at U Lowell. He recovered from his injury and went on to play as a starting defensive end for the undefeated U Lowell football team that won the Division 3 National Championship in 1977.
His love of sports continued into his adult years playing in several recreational leagues, umpiring youth baseball and refereeing youth basketball.
Greg loved to travel and spent months visiting Europe with his sister and friends. He was also an American history buff, particularly the Civil War era. In his late 30s, he took a year off of work to travel across the United States visiting historical sites along the way. When he reached California, he knew he had found his home—in more ways than one. Not only did he find his dream job, but through a happy stroke of serendipity, Greg (literally) bumped into a woman in the park and fell in love at first sight. He and Pimnipa Yongprayoon were married a year later and went on to enjoy California living.
Pim credits Greg with encouraging her to go back to school and earn her nursing degree, and introducing her to a love of travel. Together, they traveled all over the country, taking a new route each time.
Greg was a devoted family man. Though he had no children of his own, he was an amazing uncle to his six nephews. After his brother died, Greg was a surrogate father to his three older nephews. He always made sure that they had everything they needed for school and sports, and would take them on school vacations to places like Disneyland.
In 2009, Greg and Pim returned to Lowell to care for his elderly mother who was suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. This move back to the east coast brought him closer to his three younger nephews who were in middle and high school. Greg enjoyed going to ALL of their activities—from concerts and musicals to games of football, baseball, basketball and lacrosse!
He was their biggest fan and they will forever cherish the memory of him cheering them on.
Greg is survived by his wife of 22 years, Pimnipa Hill, and his stepdaughter, Puntitra Siriyakul of San Francisco, CA; his sister, Anne Marie Hill and her husband, Scott Davis, of Winchester, MA; six nephews, John Hill of Crescent City, FL, Eric Hill of Salem, MA, Brett Hill and his wife, Sarah, of Leominster, MA, Owen Davis of New York, NY, Alec Davis of Boston, MA and Graeme Davis of Providence, RI; a great-nephew, Dominic Hill of Salem, MA and a great-niece Allyssa Hill of FL; his dear cousin Richard Albert of Lowell, and many other cousins.
He was preceded in death by his parents, George and Doris (Albert) Hill, his brother, John (“Jackie”) Hill, and his sister, Mary-Jo (“MJ”) Hill.
The family asks that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the American Diabetes Association., PO Box 7023, Merrifield, VA 22116-7023 or at: https://www.diabetes.org/donate
While following social distancing guidelines and wearing a mask, all are welcome to attend his calling hours on Sunday, March 7, 2021 from 1-5 p.m. with a prayer service at 5 p.m. at the McDonough Funeral Home, 14 Highland Street, Lowell, MA 978-458-6816.