Terry Hillman

If you met Terry Hillman, on a dock or on a beach, over dinner or drinks or a cup of tea, you were in for more than a laugh and some excellent stories (though there would be no shortage of laughs and stories!). His was a generous spirit; he gave his full attention to every soul who crossed paths with him. If you met Terry Hillman, you just might have made a friend for life.

Terry died on September 5th, 2023, and is survived his two boys, Jack, 18, and Gage, 16. The purpose of this GoFundMe page is to raise funds to provide the financial resources the boys need for funeral costs, to stay together in their home as the they finish high school and begin to navigate their future without him, and to provide them with resources to further their educations.

An avid surfer and explorer, Terry travelled the world from a young age and made life-long connections everywhere he went. A present father to Jack and Gage, a loving brother and son, and a loyal friend to so many—all this makes Terry’s passing all the more painful and his life all the more meaningful.

And Terry could fix, do, and accomplish anything he set his mind to. From surfing, to golf, to being an accomplished carpenter and field biologist, he was a Renaissance man and Jack of all Trades.

A passionate conservationist, after completing his degree at Southampton University in England, Terry went to work in 2002 at age 36 as a Fisheries Observer on the west coast. Gaining responsibility from the beginning, in 2011 he rose to the position of Field Coordinator at the inception of the West Coast Catch Share Program. He played an invaluable role in getting that Program up and running and in keeping it running in the years since. His contribution to the fishing community and to sustainable fisheries on the west coast will long survive him.

His death is of course a loss for the friends and coworkers who loved him, but that’s as nothing compared to the loss for his sons. We are grateful for any contribution you can make on their behalf.

And to Terry Hillman: Hail and farewell!

(Donations will be deposited to a Trust, administered by Joel Penoyar, for the benefit of Jack and Gage.)