Helen Hill

I just received some terrible, sad, wrong, news... a message from my animatrix friend Ellie, about a mutual friend and wonderful animatin' fool, Helen Hill...

Killed Thursday in New Orleans. We weren't close friends, but we shared a couple of nutty days hittin the Ottawa Animation Festival and more than a few overtired hours in college with the animating student crew of 92, a unique bonding process, driven by equal parts creative bee-boppin' and sleep deprivation. I honestly didn't get to know her very well. That is, I couldn't tell you her birthday or where she grew up or what her favorite anything was, well, except perhaps for her favorite accessories for animating all night in Sever basement (I seem to recall a checkered flannel type overshirt with a quilted lining, a bandanna/do-rag, and a mug of hot coffee or tea). But I did quickly understand that she's one of those shining stars that will sometimes choose to travel our stupid planet as a good and beautiful person. Even if you didn't get the chance to meet her and experience it firsthand, you could see it reflected in her friends, and her animation. She was a good soul, who made every project and experience she touched better and brighter. I knew Paul, her husband, a bit less well, but from the fun, whimsy, energy, and smarts he put into his music and musical theatric productions, it was easy to see how they complemented one another. Animator-teacher and Troublemaker-doctor... A truly dynamic duo and force for Good.

I remember hearing from Ellie some years back that they'd adopted a pot-bellied pig for a pet—Rosie. Are you smiling? See? She's that good! They're that good. =)

I hope you'll take a moment to read about her, in the news, and also in these words I found that belong to someone who knows her much better than I. Not that anyone needs to be pointed to bad news today, but if you can get through and past the unfair and criminal ending, you may be inspired by and enjoy the living and doing and making. Learn who she and her husband Paul are and what they are passionate about, their life and work in New Orleans, and hold Helen, Paul, and their son Francis in your thoughts for a few heartbeats.

Keep on keepin on.

* If you've been touched by Helen and have thoughts, anecdotes, or anything else about her you'd like to share, friends of her family have set up a remembrance site/page at HelenHill.org.