Jacqueline Wallace/The Rider Photo
Karina Rodriguez | THE RIDER
The UTRGV Athletics program held a memorial for former Men’s Basketball Coach Lewis Hill Tuesday afternoon in the UTRGV Fieldhouse.
Tony Forina, who is the public address announcer for UTRGV games, served as the master of ceremonies.
Before the memorial service, there was also a viewing in the Fieldhouse at noon, where people could come to pay respects to Hill and his family members.
Hill died Feb. 7 at his residence at age 55. The cause of death was not known specifically, according to Jonah Goldberg, senior associate athletic director for communications. The coach had a rare heart condition called amyloidosis, Goldberg said.
Before the ceremony, some of Hill’s favorite songs were played for family, friends and the community to enjoy and remember how joyous his presence was.
Besides Hill’s immediate family–wife, Renee, and children Lewis Jr., Elle, Sierra, Erica and Asya–many of the coach’s extended family also attended the ceremony.
During the ceremony, speaker after speaker wanted to make it clear that the service today was not just to mourn Coach Hill but to celebrate his life and keep his memory alive.
Family and friends from New York, Oklahoma and Africa spoke about the fond memories they had with Hill and offered their condolences to his immediate family. Many friends and family mentioned that UTRGV had a special place in Hill’s heart and that he loved the community like his family.
In the center of the Fieldhouse, family members sat in aisles wearing black masks with “Peace & Love” written on the right side and the No. 3 written on the left in honor of Hill’s motto and the number he wore throughout his own basketball career.
Behind the family, Hill’s players and colleagues sat, all wearing black masks and pins on their jackets that read “LH.”
In the audience, former players for the UTRGV Men’s Basketball Team were also present to pay their respects to Hill.
Throughout the gymnasium, athletes, family and friends all celebrated the life of Hill and were reminded that his motto in life was to live with “Peace and Love” and that legacy will continue throughout UTRGV through his athletes and the rest of the UTRGV Athletics department, who had the honor of knowing him.
