John Hillyer Obituary

Hillyer, John W.

John Whitfield Hillyer, 88, a long careered sportswriter in both Chicago and San Francisco, and dedicated supporter of the arts, passed away on April 28, 2025 in San Francisco after a brief illness.

John was born on June 7, 1936 in Evanston, IL, to parents Whitfield and Elinor (nee Thompson) Hillyer.

John graduated from Evanston Township High School (ETHS) in 1954. He was active on the school newspaper, focusing on sports coverage. As a senior he was manager of the ETHS basketball team.

He majored in journalism at the University of Michigan and received a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1958. He covered sports and was Assistant Sports Editor at the Michigan Daily newspaper. He was a member of the Zeta Psi fraternity. John was in the army reserve from 1958-1963.

John began his career as an Associated Press reporter in Springfield, IL in 1958-59. He then was sports editor for the Dekalb Daily Chronicle in Dekalb, IL in 1959-60. From there he joined the sports staff of the Illinois State Journal in Springfield, IL, where he worked from 1960-63. In 1963-65 he was on the sports staff of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

In 1965-74 John worked for the Chicago American (later known as Chicago Today) as a sportswriter and copy editor. From 1969-74 he was the beat writer covering the Chicago White Sox. After Chicago Today folded in 1974 he joined the Chicago Daily News as a sportswriter and copy editor. He was the primary writer covering the White Sox for the first half of 1976 and the Cubs for the first half of 1977.

After the Daily News folded in 1978 John joined the San Francisco Examiner as a sportswriter and copy editor. He covered some of the Oakland A's 1980 season, and from 1981-85 he was the beat writer on the San Francisco Giants. He was the primary beat writer on the Golden State Warriors from 1978-81 and covered them full time from 1986 until his retirement in 1996.

After retirement John was able to devote his time to all his favorite things: cheering on the local teams he had covered, his dogs, all University of Michigan sports, old movies, film noir, his extensive autograph collection, and most of all music.

A devoted supporter of the arts, John was an annual subscriber to the San Francisco Symphony. Each new season filled him with gratitude. He often remarked how lucky he felt to attend each performance with the first concert of the year bringing a tear to his eye.

He is fondly remembered for his quick wit and sense of humor which remained intact to his final days.

John is survived by his son Michael of Glenview, IL; son Robert (Jamie) of Tucker, GA; brother Stephen of Chicago, IL; grandchildren Caroline, Vivienne, and Jonathan of Tucker, GA, and longtime companion Charlene Thomas of San Francisco, CA.

A memorial visitation will be held on Friday, July 25, 2025 from 10:00 AM until 1:00 PM at Wm. H. Scott Funeral Home, 1100 Greenleaf Ave, Wilmette, IL 60091. Inurnment will follow at Memorial Park Cemetery, 9900 Gross Point Rd, Skokie, IL 60076 at 2:00 PM.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Peninsula Humane Society, 1450 Rollins Rd, Burlingame, CA 94010.

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