AAC Institute - JoAnn Hill

JoAnn Matchefts Hill, 78, passed away Thursday, October 18, 2007 at Lovelace Heart Center Hospital in Albuquerque, New Mexico. She is preceded in death by her son John Arthur Hill. JoAnn is survived by Dr. Russell Hill, her husband of 57 years, her daughter Dr. Katharine (Katya) Hill and her children Tristan, Aaron, and Sarah Gall in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, son Jim in Kiev, Ukraine and his children Kai and Lewis Hill, daughter Cheryl and husband John Gordon and their children John and Joe Gordon in Albuquerque, NM and son Robin in Whitefish, Montana. In addition, she is survived by foster-daughter Judy Swanson Buranen, Plymouth, MN, and by brothers John Matchefts of Colorado Springs, CO and his wife Carolyn and daughter Toni, and Dr. James Matchefts of Eveleth, MN and his children Angela, Nick and Marco.

JoAnn's roots are in the Mesabi Iron Range of Minnesota. She was born on November 12, 1928 in Hibbing, Minnesota, and she has always been proud of her Italian-Polish heritage. She graduated from Eveleth High School in Eveleth, Minnesota in 1946, and went on to nursing school in Duluth, Minnesota. Upon graduating from nursing school, she became a radiology technician and for many years pursued a career in the field of medicine. However, her most important and successful vocation was raising 5 children and supporting her husband's career as a teacher, vice-principal, principal, and eventually President of Lakewood Community College in Minnesota. As a mother raising 5 children she was a frequent volunteer serving as Girl Scout and Boy Scout leader, camp nurse, and teachers aide. She also assisted on countless school activities. As a concerned citizen, she worked diligently for the Democratic Party in Minnesota (DFL). Filling various roles within the DFL, she would often bring along one or two of her children to help stuff envelopes or lick stamps, instilling within them a sense of responsibility to their country and the importance of being an involved citizen. JoAnn remained active in the Democratic Party until her death. With children raised, JoAnn returned to the workplace, working at and eventually retiring from, the State of Minnesota Ethical Practices Board.

JoAnn was the center of a large family circle that extended across the country, and at times around the world. She never "retired" from taking care of her family or working for important issues and causes. In 1999, JoAnn and Russell sold the family home in Mahtomedi, Minnesota and moved to Edinboro, Pennsylvania to support their daughter Katya’s work on a PhD at the University of Pittsburgh. In 2001, after Katya successfully earned her degree, JoAnn and Russ moved back to Mahtomedi and reconnected with their numerous friends and fellow American Legion members. In 2004, they moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico to be near their daughter Cheryl and her family. JoAnn will be remembered for her love of family, her friendship, her expression of caring and concern for others, her endless energy, and her courage to speak up and act on what she felt were the right and just things to do.