Jack Wayne Hill, 71, passed away April 14, 2023, at Baylor Scott and White Medical Center in Temple, Texas. Jack succumbed after a year long battle with stage IV adrenal cancer.
Jack was a California transplant, born August 13, 1951, who moved to Killeen, Texas in 2017 to join his wife, Linda and family after Linda was diagnosed with Dementia. Jack was revered as a “San Diego Boy,” having been born and raised in the coastal southern town since 1951.
Through connections in the San Diego music industry, Jack met and married Linda Foreman of Oceanside, California, in 1971.
Jack attended Stockton Elementary School. He loved playing marbles, but did not want to get his pants dirty so he played without touching the ground, in a push-up-like position. Jack was very good at it, always winning marbles in the game. He also mastered the yo-yo, winning competitions for his skills in Around the World, Rock the Baby, and Walk the Dog. It was in elementary school when Jack developed a passion for music and learning. By the age of ten, Jack was playing with musicians twice his age. In addition to these skills, Jack was a Patrol Boy and an honor roll student. Jack attended Memorial Junior High where he began playing the cello and bass. He would bring various string instruments home to practice. Jack attended Lincoln High School. It was there he was assigned to play the trombone. At Lincoln, Jack had both band and orchestra classes. Jack soon excelled and played in the Hornets Marching Band for Lincoln until graduating in 1969.
Growing up, Jack shared a room with his grandfather who was born in Cape Verde. Inspired by his grandfather’s stories of his travels and adventures, Jack enjoyed geography, documentaries, discovering new words and storytelling, often telling a story with an accent for laughs and special effects.
Jack went on to open for many groups. He played with the Bell Brothers, the Soul Brothers, Brad Rambur “Can’t Put it Down,” on which Jack was the musical director and composer of “Pinnacle”. This Masquerade is sung by Linda Hill with whom he chose to add some soul to his smoky take on the Leon Russell classic. Jack and Linda also recorded and performed with the Wolf Marshall Trio at the Blue Fire Grill at the Omni La Costa Resort and Spa. He also recorded with jazz guitarist, Pat Metheny. Jack and Linda enjoyed being together in everything they did.
Later in life, Jack volunteered at the NAMM Foundations’s Museum of Making Music in Carlsbad, California. He was a docent and gave tours to youth eager to learn more about music. Before relocating to Texas in 2017, he was the director of the Carlsbad School of Music.
Jack’s wife, Linda passed away peacefully three weeks after Jack. They were married for fifty-two years.
On April 14, 2023, a man of great purpose, who left an indelible mark on this planet was called home by Jehovah. Jack’s presence, his spirit, and gift will be sorely missed, but will live on in the memory of his students, Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses, his children and family, and in the memory of the many people that knew and loved him. However, he is at peace and has joined those who have gone before him. He has finished his purpose on this side with greatness and integrity. His legacy will live on, not only from what he has left behind but what he has sown into others.
He leaves to cherish his memory a sister, Barbara Andrade of Brentwood, Ca., three children: Jack “Ghandi” Hill of North San Diego County, Jaclin Jameson of Inglewood, Ca., Rhapsody Newton of Kingdom of Bahrain; twelve grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren; Niece Andrezia Andrade; Nephews Rasheed Flenoid and Jamal Rashada; Great nieces: Jayla Dorsey, Maya Andrade-Diouf and Lotus Rashada; Great nephews: Makai Andrade-Diouf, Quincy Flenoid, Zain Rashada, and Elias Flenoid; first cousins: Danny Bush, Gloria Bush, Frank Alforque, Mary J. Holiday, Andrea M. Alforque, Carolyn F. Alforque-Allen, Robert “Timmy” Alforque, Elizabeth J. Adkins, Tommy A. Alforque and Susan M. Alforque-Evans; sister in law, Glenda Howard, her children, Bobbi, Richard, Robert and Andre Jones, and grandchildren Maya. Kiera, Robert Jr., Rhapsody, Jaelyn, Ayla and Alexander Jones; the Pina family in Cape Cod, Massachusetts; and the Perry family in New Bedford, Massachusetts.
Jack was preceded in death by grandfather, Francisco Pires Andrade “Papa”; grandmother, Andresia DePina Andrade; Mother, Dominga B. Barnes; Mother-in-law Adele Foreman; Aunts Mary C. Alforque and Philomena Bush; Uncle Manuel “Juju” Andrade; and cousins, William Bush, Marsha and Wayne Andrade.
