Walter Leonard Hill, Jr., LCSW, BCD, of North Haven, Connecticut, died suddenly at home on Wednesday, February 18, 2015, of cardiac arrest. He was 68 years old. He retired in 2014 from a long career in social work and psychiatry as a clinician, administrator, teacher, and mentor at Yale University, Smith College School for Social Work, and Yale New Haven Hospital. Throughout his career, he had a small private practice in individual, marital, and family therapy and was a frequent clinical and healthcare consultant. The son of Walter L. and Eleanor Hill, he was born in Baltimore, Maryland, and grew up in Towson, Maryland. He is survived by his wife of 46 years, Susan G. Hill of North Haven; his daughter Amy Hill of Washington, DC; his sister Jeanne Kangas (Donald) of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, as well as many cousins, nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his son Philip Hill, his parents, and his stepmother, Ruth Iglehart Hill. He was also well loved by his surviving sisters and brothers-in law, stepsister and brothers, and his many friends and colleagues. Mr. Hill earned a B.A., summa cum laude, from Western Maryland College in 1968, an M. Div. from Yale Divinity School in 1972, and an M.S.W. from Smith College School for Social Work in 1975. He was Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychiatry (Social Work), Yale School of Medicine, from 1977 until the present and was Clinical Professor, School for Social Work, Smith College, from 1989 onward. In his academic and clinical capacities, he gave a myriad of lectures and seminars on marital and family treatment and supervised trainees from all the disciplines of mental health. He loved to teach and was especially appreciative of the “Outstanding Teaching Award” that he received from students of Yale University, School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry (Psychology Section) for the 2010-2011 academic year. In accord with his great commitment to the quality of mental health professional training and accreditation, he served nationally on the American Board of Examiners in Clinical Social Work from 2004-2011, and as their Vice President from 2006-2011. For the first twenty-five years of his career, Mr. Hill worked at the Yale Psychiatric Institute, serving at various times as Director of Admissions, Coordinator of Family Therapy, Director of Social Work, Director of Training (staff development and graduate/professional training in all mental health disciplines), Director of the Community Services Division, and Director of Specialty Clinics. After the Institute merged with Yale New Haven Hospital, he served as Social Work Manager (2000-2009) and most recently as Adult Outpatient Service Manager, Yale New Haven Psychiatric Hospital. Leonard Hill was a kind and loving husband and father; an intelligent, witty, and engaging friend; a resourceful and loyal colleague; a committed and compassionate mentor; and a fierce advocate for quality mental health care.
Calling hours will be from 5-8 pm Monday, February 23rd, at the North Haven Funeral Home, 36 Washington Ave, North Haven, CT. A memorial service will be held on Tuesday, February 24th, at 2:00 pm in the Spring Glen Church, 1825 Whitney Ave, Hamden, CT. In lieu of flowers, his family has requested that memorial donations be sent to the Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, Suite 901, 300 George St, New Haven, CT 06511.
Dear Susan,
I am so sorry to learn about Leonard's death. When I met him, this past May, he was looking forward to retirement.
Leonard dedicated his life to help clients, families, students, and co-worker touch complicated minds. We all are better for his efforts.
Susan you were my Amity High English teacher. Len was my colleague and teacher at YPI, where we work together from 1976-1989. I am fortunate to have both of you teach me about various aspects of life.
Sincerely,
Dennise Murray Boyle
So shocked and surprised to learn of Len's death. Wish I could be with you in person. Will call next week.
I am so sorry for your loss. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
Kerri Valencia, friend and colleague of Amy's.
I am so sorry for your loss and wish you peace in this difficult time.
With love,
Emily
His life was gentle, and the elements
So mixed in him that Nature might stand up
And say to all the world, “This was a man.”
and a deep-souled mensch too.
Leonard supervised me during my two years as a post-doctoral fellow at the Yale Psychiatric Institute, between 1988 and 1990. He was rightly recognized as a committed and highly skilled family clinician. Equally importantly, Leonard devoted himself to the milieu of long-term hospital care for the seriously mentally ill and to the health of the hospital itself, as a therapeutic environment that depended upon close collaboration and respect at all levels of care. He was gracious and generous. He knew what he thought and remained loyal to his values and principles, but he never indulged in self-importance. I have admired Leonard's willingness to stay in positions of leadership at Yale in spite of the radical changes in the institution's ability to take care of the mentally ill as it once did. I am sure patients at the Yale Psychiatric Hospital fared better for Leonard's persistence. I feel so sad for his family, already dealing with the loss of Philip barely a year ago. And I feel sad for the community of friends, colleagues and patients who will miss him deeply.
Dear Susan, I am truly sorry to hear of your Husband's untimely death! There are no words to express my sincere sympathy! We both share much sadness in our recent losses of loved ones! My prayers and thoughts will always be with you and your family.
Dear Sue and Amy,
Our hearts are broken for you, us, and all the friends and family Len has left behind. He was one in a million and we are all better for have known him. One could not ask for a finer friend than Len Hill. With love and hugs, Carol and Larry
His life was gentle, and the elements
So mixed in him that Nature might stand up
And say to all the world, “This was a man.”
And to us he was a wonderful friend and a true mensch,
Dearest Sue and Amy, We are so shocked and saddened that your beloved Len and Dad passed away. Please know we are holding you close in our hearts. With our love, Rebecca and Ruby
I am sorry for your loss. I will keep you in my prayers.
Dear Mrs. Hill, Amy and extended family,
Leonard's passing has brought me both great sadness and a flood of happy and appreciative memories. Please accept my heartfelt condolences and sympathy for your family’s loss. I first met Leonard in the mid-to-late 70s at the old Yale Psychiatric Institute. I didn't know it at the time but Leonard was to have an enduring influence on my life as my association with him and a few of his social work colleagues led to my decision to attend social work school. Fast forward to the late 1990s, where Leonard kindly returned my call, remembered who I was, and facilitated a job interview for me at what was then still the YPI. Over the last 15 years. At both the YPI and YNHPH, Leonard has been unfailingly friendly, kind and, most importantly, willing to share his wit and humor, when we would run into each other on the job. While Leonard would sometimes complain about an organization issue, I never once heard him make an unkind statement about anyone. I always found Leonard to be gentle, patient and supportive. I hope he knew how much I looked up to him. The Lord took this good man much too early.
We never met Amy's father although we had heard so much about him over the years. Since we have come to know and admire Amy's many wonderful qualities, we can see that she shared many of them with her father. The obituary shows what an accomplished and admired colleague, husband, parent and friend he was to many. We recognize how difficult this is for Amy and her mother, and we send our love.
Jean & Tom
I am thinking of you both. We at Sheridan are lucky to have Amy in our lives. She makes a difference every day for her kids and for all of us.
Amy, I hope I can be a comfort to you when you return.
Much love,
Margie
All my love to your family. I still cannot wrap my mind around this, but send my best to you both
I only had the privilege of meeting Mr. Hill once. I remember him as a vivacious giving person who loved his children. He and Susan took me in while I was a student with Amy in Boston. My dear friend Amy, is a daddy's girl, like me, and I am grieving for her and her mother over his loss.
A wonderful legacy for a very good man. Thinking of you Sue
Just discovered this memorial and am so saddened to learn of Leonard's passing. One of my most treasured colleagues from the YPI days; truly a kind soul. He will be greatly missed.