"Limbo River" by Rick Hillis.
Published by University of Pittsburgh Press
The solemn atmosphere of the memorial service for DePauw Professor Rick Hillis quickly changed to celebratory as his stories, poems and songs were shared at the Elms on Tuesday.
Hillis, an English professor, died unexpectedly on Oct. 6, while on sabbatical in Texas. He was 58 years old. Married to Emily Doak, a writer, Hillis normally lived in Greencastle, IN. He grew up in Saskatchewan, Canada and taught fiction writing, screenwriting, poetry and songwriting, and wrote original work, including a book of poetry called “The Blue Machines of Night” and a short story collection, “Limbo River.”
DePauw University President Brian Casey welcomed the event. “We gather as a faculty, but we also gather as a family,” he said.
The celebration of his life included a eulogy by Istvan Csicsery-Ronay, a DePauw English professor, Hillis’ friend and neighbor.
“He worked tirelessly to make his writing honest and truthful. He labored over his stories, on page and in song, with a perfectionist’s endurance: cutting away everything he considered ego,” he said.
The service often erupted in laughter as Hillis’ pieces ranged from insightful to satirical. His folk-sounding songs were filled with beautiful poetry. Hillis enjoyed playing music with friends like Csicsery-Ronay. Musician alum David McMillin was in attendance.
Hillis’ songs ranged from the soothing “Snow Song” to the upbeat “Hotel Toledo.” Carol Cox, long-time friends with Hillis and his wife, said, “The circle of friends and musicians that Rick was a part of has been broken and will never be the same. His seat in the song circle may be empty but his music, his voice, and his presence will be with us forever”.
“Rick taught us about writing, but he also taught us about life,” said Kristen Mitchell, a former student. “How to write a shitty first draft and make mistakes, how to revise and know which mistakes to keep, how to re-imagine, how to take criticism, how to look inward, and most importantly, how to look outward. Rick’s teaching method taught us not only how to be thoughtful writers, but how to be more empathetic human beings.”
Csicsery-Ronay also noted, “He loved his students, and encouraged them because he believed writing honestly would make them write well and writing well would make them better human beings.”
The gathering was filled with a wide arrange of individuals – from students to colleagues to family. The floor was open to friends to share memories of Hillis. Later, DePauw 2014 graduate Carianna Arredondo dedicated her painting "The Blue Macines of Night" for Rick.
“Rick was alive in that room at the Elms through his stories, his poems, and his songs,” said Harry Brown, the chair of the English department. “Members of Rick's family were there alongside his friends, colleagues, and students. Together, they gave us a rich and complete picture of who Rick was, and why we will miss him.”