Bill Hildebrand, Devoted to Family, Community and Justice

Our Dad, Bill  Hildebrand, devoted over 60 years to Maplewood, and passed away Dec. 13, 2011.  

He helped found the Fair Housing Council in Maplewood/South Orange and later he served as President of the Essex County Fair Housing in the mid 1960’s.  

When the the Newark rebellion broke out, he organized Maplewoodians to donate blood and food to the victims, and later helped found the Friends of Clinton Hill which came out of the rebellions and  gave ongoing medical and dental care from our local doctors and dentists to the people of that section of Newark.

Then he, along with our mother Virginia, was a leader of the Anti War Committee in Maplewood/South Orange during the Vietnam War which has now become the local chapter of NJ Peace Action. One of their efforts was to defend the rights of Columbia High School students to have their anti-war committee recognized at  the school.  

He was always actively engaged in local politics besides organizing our community to participate in world and national events. Many of our Maplewood commuters have admired and sat on the bench our family placed in honor of both our parents (our mother passed away in 2009), across from the eastbound side of the Maplewood train station, a location where Bill leafleted countless  mornings for Maplewood and national election campaigns and all the causes he believed in.  

The Hildebrands moved to Winchester Gardens in Maplewood when it first opened and both were very active in in that community on various committees. In particular, Bill organized the Mind Alive series, where he brought local speakers on many political and educational subjects, as well as local musicians, to the residents of Winchester Gardens.  

The Hildebrand family is very grateful for the wonderful care our parents received there as they moved on to the assisted living unit in their later years.  

The family asks for any donations to one of the following: Peace Action, 473 Bloomfield Ave. in Bloomfield, NJ 07003; the American Civil Liberties Union, Box 32159 Newark, NJ 07102.; or the Community Coalition on Race, 516 Prospect St. Maplewood, NJ 07040.

Below is Bill's obituary as it will appear in the News-Record:

William Hildebrand, Jr. Devoted to Family, Community and Justice

1915-2011

On Tuesday, December 13, 2011, William (Bill) Hildebrand, Jr. died after a long, productive and generous life. His oldest child Chris Hildebrand said the night of his death, “It was as if he woke up every day and said to himself, ‘What can I do to make life better for my family and help this world.’” This enduring commitment is symbolized by his wish that memorial donations be made to the American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey, Box 32159 Newark, NJ 07102. and NJ Peace Action Education Fund, 673 Bloomfield Ave., Bloomfield, NJ 07003.

The outlines of his biography include being born February 10, 1915 in Newark; graduating from Orange High School and later Newark University (Rutgers Law School); serving in Naval Intelligence in England during World War II; being Secretary to New Jersey Governor Charles Edison; and working for 39 years until his 1984 retirement for the company that published the Martindale Hubbell Law Directory, rising to be its president. “He was always a problem solver. He tackled every task and challenge with tremendous determination and down right enthusiasm,” said his daughter Ginny Hildebrand. “I remember once reading an old newspaper article about his work for Edison where the Governor described him as a ‘hypodermic needle full of wake-up juice.’ And believe me that’s how it felt to me every morning when he’d jolt me out of sleep to get up for school.”

The synthesis of his loyalty to family and the wider community was never more apparent than during the Vietnam War. “Dad became a draft counselor,” said his son Eric. “He would travel to Brooklyn after a full day of work in Summit (NJ) to help draftees apply for CO (Conscientious Objector) status. He helped save me and dozens of other kids from that horrible war.”

He and his beloved wife of fifty-nine years, Virginia (1915-2009), were organizers and marchers against the Vietnam War, against Nuclear Weapons and Power, for Women’s Rights and were volunteers with the American Civil Liberties Union. Their partnership in social justice causes began in the 1960’s when they were among the founders of the Fair Housing Council of Maplewood and South Orange, which pressured Real Estate Agents and individuals to end their policies of racial discrimination.

For many years he and his wife frequently traveled across the country and to Europe with their adored grandchildren, Lauren and Katie, their daughter-in-law Paddy, and Eric. Bill and Virginia warmly embraced Ginny’s and Chris’ companions. “He had a huge heart and we’ll forever love him,” said Chris.

“Dad was extremely accomplished and self-confident but never pretentious or egotistical. That’s a pretty unique and very admirable combination. In fact, he’d always laugh heartily at his own idiosyncrasies when I’d point them out,” said Ginny. His family describes him as simply the kindest, best man they ever knew. Many others will remember him in this way too.

 The family is grateful to the staff of Winchester Gardens for the gentle, respectful care they gave to Bill and Virginia during their last years.