Robert M. Hill Jr

Robert Moore Hill Jr. passed away at his home on September 15, 2018. He was 76. He was born in Houston to Dr. Robert Moore Hill Sr. and Dorothy (Walthall) Hill on February 25, 1942.

Robert attended Lamar High School, graduating in 1960. He attended Rice University where he obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1965. He spent some time as a teaching assistant at the University of Texas while pursuing graduate work.

Robert began teaching at Harlingen High School in 1989, where he quickly became a popular and beloved figure on campus. He was an Academic Decathlon coach for many years; he also coached MasterMinds and assisted with UIL competitions. He had a unique way of teaching that left an indelible impression on his math students. His stories about the “mole people” who lived in the storm drains and the monkeys who graded students’ papers became a part of the Cardinal tradition. He was named “Teacher of the Year” in 2012 and was inducted into the Cardinal Hall of Fame in 2016.

Robert loved visiting the national parks in the Pacific Northwest. The Olympic mountains were his cathedrals, and Sequoia-Kings Canyon was his second home. He and his wife Luanne spent many summers visiting the scenic landscapes and sampling local delicacies, especially grilled salmon. He always came back from these trips recharged and ready to face another year of teaching the students he loved.

Robert is survived by his wife, Luanne (Staton) Hill, his siblings Kathleen Hill, Bruce Hill and Alison (Hill) Cochrane, and his two step-children Jeanne Candler and Edward Candler. He also leaves behind his niece Tracy Akram and his nephew Peter Kraft.

Friends and family are invited to a gathering to celebrate his life on Wednesday, September 26, 2018 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall at First United Methodist Church in Harlingen.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions be made to a scholarship fund at Harlingen High School, Attn: Imelda Munivez, 1201 E. Marshall Ave, Harlingen, TX 78550.