Benjamin “Benji” Douglas Hill Jr., 84, passed away peacefully on February 15, 2026, in Rye, New York.
Benji leaves behind his beloved wife of 36 years, Patricia Ohlinger Hill, and his two loving children, Isabelle Perkins (Harrison) and Benjamin D. Hill III. “Pops” also leaves behind two cherished grandchildren, India Eleanor Perkins and Benjamin “Reid” Perkins. He was the eldest of the Hill siblings and is survived by his brother, Timothy Hill, and preceded in death by his brother, Nicholas Hill, and sister, Maria Hill.
Born in Paterson, New Jersey, on June 22, 1941, to Benjamin Douglas Hill Sr. and Mary Dingman Hill, Benji grew up in Greenwich, Connecticut. He enjoyed an idyllic childhood in Meads Point brimming with lifelong friends. It was during those spirited years that Benji discovered his lifelong love of athletics-playing ice hockey and skiing in the winter, spending summers on Cape Cod playing tennis with his siblings and cousins, and falling hard for the New York Yankees, whom he cheered faithfully throughout his life.
For high school, Benji started at The Hotchkiss School and graduated from the New Preparatory School in Cambridge, MA. He started his college education at The University of Virginia and graduated from Fairfield University in 1968. In between UVA and FU, he enlisted in the United States Army where he was stationed in Germany. It was during this experience that he discovered an enduring fascination with foreign cultures and languages.
Benji’s professional journey was as dynamic and stylish as he was. He started his career in fashion at Outdoor Traders in Greenwich in 1966 and went on to hold several positions within the industry before spending more than 30 years at Dooney & Bourke, where he served as Senior Vice President before retiring in 2016.
Benji’s proudest accomplishment of all was his family. In 1989 he courted the love of his life, Patricia. He was a devoted father who was always present in his children’s lives. Benji delighted in becoming “Pops,” embracing grandfatherhood with pride and tenderness despite his sickness.
We will honor Benji by thinking of him whenever we savor his favorite joys in life-languid afternoons basking in the sunshine, plunging into a brisk, salty ocean, smacking a tennis ball across a clay court, moon-dancing across a crowded dance floor, stepping out in a bold and exotic ensemble, and, above all, embracing each day with his unmistakable sense of joie de vivre.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association in his honor. A celebration of life honoring Benji will be held in May.
