In Honor of the Memory of Jim Hillgartner
Who Passed Away on April 9, 2006
by Robert Chapel, Professor

It is hard to put into words what Jim Hillgartner meant to me, to those who worked for the Heritage Repertory Theatre, to our Department of Drama, and quite frankly to the World.  In my lifetime I have been blessed to work and establish friendships with extremely gifted, caring, giving and nurturing theatre artists, but no one more so than Jim. 

I got to know him during our first production together, I'm Not Rappaport, in 1988, and asked him to return many summers after that to grace our stage with his talent and unbelievable comic timing.  Since his first summer with HRT, Jim appeared in nearly a dozen more plays, culminating in his exquisite performance last summer in Arthur Miller's The Price, as Solomon, the wiley antique dealer. 

I will always cherish my time on stage with him in our production of How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.  His J.B. Biggley brought down the house each night in his duet with the femme fatale Hedy LaRue.  But Jim brought so much more to our lives than simply his supreme talent.  He was always a leader by example and set the tone for his fellow actors through his gentle demeanor and high intellect. 

Students working at HRT benefitted if they found themselves onstage or backstage with Jim.  He was not only their friend but their mentor.  Our U.Va. students marveled at his artistry and collegiality when, during one academic semester, he served as the Department of Drama's Guest Artist, playing Sheridan Whiteside in The Man Who Came To Dinner. 

Whatever he did, he did with great and gracious aplomb.  But I think what I will miss most is seeing him come around the corner and  holler in his boffo voice , "HELLO BOBO!" before giving me a great big bear hug.  We are all the better for having had Jim in our lives.  I trust he knows he was loved.

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