Wilder, VT - Daniel R. Hillard died at his home in Wilder, Vt. on Monday, December 9, 2019 after a twenty-one year battle with cancer.

Dan was born on May 25, 1943, son of Eleanor Crossman in Milo, Maine. He spent his early years in Waterville, Maine until the 8th grade when he was accepted to Good-Will Hinkley School on a full scholarship.  It was there that he developed his love of public speaking, music, theater plays and student government. There he also developed his love for reading and books. In his Junior year he was elected as Vice President of the Maine Student Counsels and was also selected to attend the United Nations Pilgrimage for Youth in New York City.  It was here that through good coaching he became a competitive cross-country runner statewide.

After graduating from Hinkley, Dan was accepted to the University of Maine, class of 1966. Here he joined Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity. In his Senior year he met the love of his life, Stephanie Ann "Stevie" Burnell and they married August 28, 1966. He stayed on to get his certificate to teach while Stevie finished her Senior Year.  Upon graduation with his degree in History and Government, he was commissioned as a 2nd Lt. in the US Army Reserves. He was activated in June 1967 and deployed to Vietnam that November as a logistic officer attached to the 25th Infantry Division in Tay Ninh Province. 1968 was a year of historical events. The Tet offenses, the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King and Robert Kennedy, the ambush at Ap Nhi and total unrest back at home. After a year in Vietnam, Dan returned finishing his active duty time at Fort Dix, NJ with the Military Police.

In 1969 Dan, Stevie and their new son returned to civilian life.  Living in Dover, NH for a short while, he worked for West Virginia Pulp and Paper Company as a salesman in their paper tableware division and here their second son was born. In 1973 they relocated to Vermont. where Dan started a career in the financial services industry.  Along the way he earned the Chartered Life Underwriters designation and was a Life and Qualified member of the Million Dollar Round Table.

Dan was a past president of the White River Rotary Club, a Paul Harris Fellow, served on the Hartford Board of Civil Authority, Chairman of the Hartford Housing Authority, was active in Republican politics. In 1997, he was elected as the State of Vermont Republican party chair.

As devoted parents, he and Stevie followed their sons, Danny and Will, around New England with their busy hockey, lacrosse, football and baseball schedules.  If his sons were playing, Dan was there. He was a charter member of the original "Friends of Hartford Hockey" program.

Dan was always active.  He was on the Board of Directors for 8 years at Good-Will Hinkley.  He was a Class Officer for the University of Maine class of "66" Alumni Association.  During the "Bicentennial" he was the Protocol Officer for the visits of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip at the University of Virginia and President Ford at Thomas Jefferson's Monticello. He was a graduate of the Command and General Staff College.  He retired with 22 years active and reserve duty with the rank of LTC. He worked hard for the American Legion Post #84 and is a member of the VFW post. He also was a member of the Ponticherry Masonic Temple in Bridgton, Maine and Kora Shrine in Lewiston, Maine.  In 2019 he was appointed by Governor Phil Scot to the Vermont Veterans Home Board of Trustees.

Dan is survived by his wife of 53 years, Stevie Hillard; his son Dan and wife Patty and his son Will; his sister Patty and husband Ray Pipes of Dexter, Maine; sister-in-law Patsy and husband Robert Boisvert of Poughkeepsie, NY; many nieces and nephews.

Dan loved life and people.  He fought a long and hard battle with his health but still managed to enjoy his family, service his clients and participate on projects with the church and Legion Post. He loved working in his garden, playing golf, watching Maine hockey, the Red Sox, the Patriots, Frankie Valley and the Four Seasons and his many friends.  He was especially fond of the cats he has had over the years. He enjoyed the out of doors where he kayaked and took up hiking.  He completed many pieces of the Appalachian Trail in Vermont, NH, and the Hundred Mile Wilderness Trail in Maine to the top of Kahtahdin. Recently he learned from his ancestry that he was Mi'kmaq and received his membership in Bras D'or First Nation in 2018.

Dan was a Christian who believed in hard work and helping others.  Raised a Catholic, he found peace and comfort in his faith attending the Greater Hartford United Church of Christ. Dan loved his family, friends, country and living life to the fullest.

A memorial service will be held later in the springtime at the Greater Hartford United Church of Christ.  Followed by burial and military honors at the Vermont Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Randolph Center, VT.

In lieu of flowers, friends are encouraged to make donations to the American Cancer Society.

The Family is planning a celebration of life in the spring.

Condolences may be made to Dan's family in an online guest book at www.knightfuneralhomes.com . The Knight Funeral Home in White River Jct., VT has been entrusted with arrangements.