CERT member, church president dies at 76
A Costa Mesa resident who was active in his church and local emergency response organizations died Saturday.
Paul Letterman Hill was a member of the Costa Mesa Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), an official city volunteer through the Mesa Emergency Services Amateur Communications program and president of the board at the First Church of Christ, Scientist. He was 76.
Hill also taught CPR and first aid through the American Heart Assn. and served as the communications coordinator for the UCLA Alumni Band, of which he was a member for 37 years.
“We love our city,” said his wife of nearly 55 years, Diane. “And we’ve always been involved and served.”
Hill, who played flute and piccolo, also served in the Army Reserve. Diane said the two of them were involved with their children, particularly when they were in Costa Mesa High School’s band program.
“Our parents were involved with their kids, and we were involved in our kids,” she said.
Diane said her husband loved working with technology, especially the radios through Mesa Emergency Services Amateur Communications.
Hill is survived by Diane, his wife; daughters Barbara Darnell and Robin Doty; son Don Hill and five grandsons.
A public celebration of life for Hill is at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the First Church of Christ, Scientist, 2880 Mesa Verde Drive East, Costa Mesa.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations in Hill’s memory to the Costa Mesa Community Foundation, P.O. Box 10268, Costa Mesa, CA 92627.
Twitter: @bradleyzint
