Members of the Rotary Club of Saco Bay gathered Thursday at the Maine Veterans’ Home in Scarborough to recognize longtime Rotarian Al Hills, a World War II veteran, with his second Paul Harris Fellowship Award.

Mr. Hills, 93, dedicated Rotarian and member since 1951, was one of four members chosen for the prestigious honor. The day before the ceremony Mr. Hills became unresponsive. On Thursday, several club members went to his room to pay tribute to a man who embodied the Rotary motto, “Service Above Self.” He died on Sunday.

Mr. Hills was a dedicated member of Rotary International for more than 60 years. Most recently, he served with members of the Saco Bay Rotary Club. He joined the local club over 15 years ago. Lucie Hatch, a friend and fellow Rotarian, said Hills attended regular meetings and participated in fellowship.

“He was very intelligent,” Hatch said. “He was a very kind and generous man, who would do anything for anyone. Whenever we had a Rotary function, he used to bring the coffee and cups. If it was 90 degrees, no problem. He loved his coffee. He was a 10 cups a day guy.”

Mr. Hills and his wife, Josephine Hills, lived in the Ocean Park area in Old Orchard Beach.

They were faithful members of First Parish Congregational Church of Saco, United Church of Christ.

The Hills were married for 72 years and raised two children. Their daughter, Deborah Hills of Edgartown, Massachusetts, reminisced Tuesday about their very early years together.

“I remember Mom saying she was cleaning up in the kitchen doing dishes and he helped her put them away. She was very nervous,” their daughter said. “The next thing you know … that was it. They got married and (about) two days later, he flew out for war. He was gone for almost two years.”

According to his obituary, which was published in Wednesday’s newspaper, Mr. Hills served in the Army Air Corps, and later the Air Force. He was a bombardier/navigator during World War II in the European Theater.

“His plane was shot down over Saarbracken, Germany,” according to his obituary. “He was forced to bail out at 20,000 feet. He landed on a school roof, slid down and landed on the ground only to be knocked unconscious and then captured. He served over 14 months as a prisoner of war in a camp near the Polish border.” In January 1945, he and over 2,000 other POWs were liberated.

Mr. Hills returned home to his wife, who nursed him back to health.

The couple eventually settled in Massachusetts, where he owned and operated a five-and-dime store in Randolph for over 30 years. His daughter said he enjoyed operating the store.

“He loved it. He really did,” she said. “He loved the people and being able to bring them whatever. At Christmas, he brought Santa into the store. He was that type of guy. Everyone loved him, except for the bad boys he used to chase out of the store.”

The Hillses moved to Old Orchard Beach in 1984, where they created a beautiful life for themselves, their daughter said. He had been living at the Maine Veterans’ Home since January. Mrs. Hills, who is battling dementia, lives at Atlantic Heights. She spent time with her husband the day before he died.

“She talked to him. She prayed. She knew,” her daughter said. “They loved each other, that’s for sure.”

Copy the Story Link