Peter Daniel Hilton, 78, of Concord, MA, died on October 27, 2022.
He was born in the Bronx to Joachim Heinrichsdorff and Lydia Notkin Heinrichsdorff, architects and artists who later changed their names to Jo and Lida Hilton. He was the elder of their two children. His younger brother, Ralph, died in 1983. Peter was a student at West Orange High School in New Jersey when he met the love of his life, Joan Caproff. They were married in 1964.
Peter graduated from Lehigh University and earned his PhD in mechanical engineering from Harvard University. He went on to teach at Lehigh and lived with Joan in Bethlehem, PA, where their children Jodi and David were born. The family moved to Albuquerque for Peter’s sabbatical year working a super secret job at Sandia Laboratories. They later moved to Concord, where they built their unique home designed by brother-in-law Jerome Albenberg. Peter worked as a consultant at Arthur D. Little and later, started his own consulting firm, Technology Strategies Group.
Peter was infallibly kind and knew that happiness comes from helping others. He was an early volunteer at Open Table, a community dinner and food pantry program in Concord and Maynard, and went on to serve as president. He was a founding member and president of Kerem Shalom congregation. He also helped establish and lead Clover Foundation, which provides free early childhood education in Kampala, Uganda. Peter was also president of Bridge to Biloxi and Gulf Coast Works. He and Joan were honored with the Kerem Shalom Vineyard of Peace award for their service to the community to make the world a better place.
Peter loved sailing, swimming, traveling, skiing, reading, and tennis. He went for a walk-and-talk with friends every day. Peter enjoyed socializing, making new friends (human and canine), and connecting people. He was a thoughtful husband and father and brought Joan coffee each morning and helped to landscape their extensive gardens under her direction. Peter loved art and was deeply influenced by his family of artists.
Peter is survived by his wife, Joan, his children Jodi and David, his grandchildren Leo and Elinor, his Israeli cousins Michael and Daniel and their children, his in-laws Bobbi and Jerry, son-in-law Zara, daughter-in-law LoriBess, nieces and nephew, and his close friend Brenda Nambatya.
Family and friends gathered for Peter’s funeral service on Monday, October 31st at Kerem Shalom in Concord. Burial followed at Sleepy Hollow Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in his memory to Clover Foundation.
Arrangements are under the care of Dee Funeral Home & Cremation Service of Concord. To share a remembrance or to offer a condolence in Peter’s online guestbook, please visit www.DeeFuneralHome.com.
