Hill, Thomas Clark M.D., passed away on Wednesday, November 14, 2018, surrounded by family. Beloved husband of the late Elena Hill; father of Michael Hill and the late Jeffrey Hill; stepfather of Ricky Jackson, Ronald Jackson, and Teri Palmer; grandfather of Karmen Jackson, Shayna Mueller, Sarah Saville, Melanie Butler, Brittany Fussell, Erin Broussard, Michael Brennan, Samantha Jackson, Ryan Jackson, Kimberley Jackson, Katherine Hill; great grandfather to Jacob Sasfai, Brennan Fussell, Hayden Fussell, Audrey Brennan, Andrew Brennan, Sophia Saville, and Matthew Daniels; brother of the late Laura Kay Schmidt and the late David Hill; uncle to numerous nieces and nephews; friend to many.
Tom was born in East St. Louis, IL on June 20, 1938 and grew up in Mt. Vernon, IL. In 1957, he married Juliet Margherio of Mt. Vernon and joined the United States Army. He served as a paratrooper in the 101st Airborne Division and took part in the integration of Central High School in Little Rock, AR in 1957.
Tom left the army in 1960 and spent the mid-sixties working in the defense industry in the emerging field of digital electronics. He participated in nuclear submarine trails in New London, CT, worked on advanced early warning radar systems in Fairbanks, AK, and contributed to other projects in Paramus, NJ and Cape Canaveral, FL.
A passionate proponent of education, Tom took advantage of the GI Bill to take college coursework throughout the country and complete a BS in biology at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville in 1968. That year, he embarked on his life’s work as a physician when he earned a scholarship to Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. After graduating from medical school, Tom worked in family medicine in Edwardsville, IL at the practice of his mentor, the late Henry Malench, M.D., and Robert Malench, M.D. In 1980, he joined Spectrum Emergency Care in St. Louis. In 1985, Tom married Elena Jackson of Lake St. Louis, MO, and the couple moved to Worden, IL a few years later. He worked as an emergency medicine physician, manager, and medical director for Spectrum Emergency Care, Correctional Medical Services, and Barnes-Jewish West County Hospital until his retirement.
In his free time Tom pursued his passions of aviation and gardening. A lifelong learner, he returned to SIUE to study Spanish. Together with Elena and granddaughter Shayna Mueller, he took numerous medical mission trips to Guatemala with HELPS International. He loved spending time with family and friends at his “farm” in Worden, feeding his birds, and enjoying nature.
The family expresses gratitude to Teri Palmer, James Radtke, and Karmen Jackson for their loving care of Tom during his illness.
Services: MEMORIAL VISITATION Sunday, November 18, 4-8 p.m. and VISITATION Monday, November 19, 4-8 p.m. at Kutis South County Chapel, 5255 Lemay Ferry Road, St. Louis, MO. Service Tuesday, November 20, 10:30 a.m. at Kutis Funeral Home, followed by interment at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery. Celebration of life Tuesday, November 20, 1-4 p.m. at Sunset Hills Country Club, 2525 South State Road 157, Edwardsville, IL.
Contributions in Tom’s memory can be made to HELPS International (https://www.helpsintl.org/).