The Veterinary and Animal Sciences Department regrets to announce the passing of retired UMass Farm Superintendent and Centenarian, Bernard Lee Hilton, who passed away September 16, 2023. Mr. Hilton served as UMass Farm Superintendent for 32 years. While at the University, Bernie oversaw all the workings of the University Farm. He also shared his knowledge of farming with the Stockbridge students. These popular hands-on classes included the old time art of driving teams of draft horses. He loved people and never met a stranger. He was generous and willing to share ideas and experience.
Bernard was born on May 25, 1923, in Norridgewock, Maine. He was the second child of nine children born to Ralph B. and Lora Ella (Yeaton) Hilton. He grew up on the family farm in Norridgewock. He served in WWII in the US Army Air Force in the South Pacific from 1943 - 1946. Bernard received his Bachelor of Science degree in Animal Science from the University of Maine Orono in 1950. He began his career as Farm Manager for the Oaklands Farm in Gardiner, Maine and came to work at UMass Amherst in 1956.
On June 21, 1947, in Auburn, Maine, Bernard married Olive Fiske of Fall River, Massachusetts. Together Bernard and Olive raised three children at their University home in Amherst. Bernard was a long time member of the Hadley Men's Club and a curator of the Hadley Farm Museum. Bernard and Olive enjoyed camping and frequent trips to Florida. Bernard loved horses and continued driving teams of horses into retirement. He was a frequent attendee at the Fryeburg Fair in Maine. Bernard was predeceased by his wife of 58 years, Olive (Fiske) Hilton who passed in September 2005. He is also predeceased by his son-in law, Lionel "Butch" Guillette and his granddaughter, Kate Guillette. Bernard is survived by his sister, Mary Shorey and his children: Paul D. Hilton, Patricia H. Guillette, Barbara L. Hilton, seven grandchildren and six great grandchildren.
Bernard was also a committed member of the Spiritualist Church of Springfield, Massachusetts and served as President. He was also a Licentiate Minister of Spiritualism. In lieu of flowers, donations in Bernard's name to the The National Spiritual Alliance at Lake Pleasant would be appreciated. Please make checks payable to: The National Spiritual Alliance, Lake Pleasant Spiritualist Camp, 2 Montague Ave, Lake Pleasant, MA 01347.