Manhattan College’s beloved chaplain dies at 73

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Rev. George Hill, the campus chaplain at Manhattan College who practiced working closely with those he served, has died after a long battle with cancer, his family said. He was 73.

Rev. Hill, who served in Riverdale for nine years, often spoke of what he called a ministry of presence.  He once said he did not like to be in his office, but instead wanted to be visible among the student body.

Many students remember Rev. Hill sitting in the school’s dining hall, talking and laughing with them, as well as counseling them in their everyday life.

He shared his devotion to the community with his family: During Rev. Hill’s nine-year tenure, three of his nephews attended Manhattan College. One of them still lives in the area.

“I asked him why he didn’t retire when things were getting worse and he basically told me it was because he loved what he was doing and he didn’t want to stop,” nephew Patrick Hill said. “That kind of speaks to who he was anyhow he cared about this campus more than his own self.”

A native of Massachusetts, Rev. Hill spent 15 years in Greenwich Village at St. Bernard’s Parish, before his tenure at Manhattan College. He also spent seven years at the Bethany House, offering mental health counseling to victims of HIV and AIDS.

Rev. Hill’s background in mental health, as well as his time at the Abbey of the Genesee in Piffard, New York, where he observed a vow of silence for nearly a decade, made him adept at meditation. A large part of his ministry at Manhattan College was spent teaching the practice of mindfulness to students.

Employees and students at Manhattan College had nothing but fond memories to share of the chaplain and campus pastor. 

A few years back, before he got sick, Fr. George and I would regularly have coffee in the morning in the old Dante’s Den and we’d talk about everything - work, faith, life - and we’d talk to people on their way to and from breakfast,” said Lois Harr, the college’s director of campus ministry. “A couple of years ago, we continued those great talks on the car rides to and from doctor visits and chemotherapy sessions.

Rev. Hill died after suffering kidney failure as a result of his chemotherapy, family members confirmed.

Manhattan College Student Body President Dorian Persaud shared his thoughts on Rev. Hill’s passing. “Father Hill was one of the first people I met on this campus and he’s really had a huge impact on my life and the guidance he gave to people was also my motivation of helping others as well,” he said. “He was a big role-model for me.” 

 

Editor’s Note: Anthony Capote is a Manhattan College student.

Rev. George Hill, Manhattan College, Anthony Capote