Life Tributes

Jillian Hopewell April 12, 1967 - December 17, 2023

We are heartbroken to announce the passing of Jillian Leslie Hopewell (56), beloved wife, mother, daughter, sister, friend, and colleague. Jillian was surrounded by loving family and friends in the weeks before her death from cancer in Chico, Calif. She is survived by her husband, Geoff Hill; adult children, Nathaniel, Owen and Kate Hill; her parents, Phil and Eleanor Hopewell; and brother, Evan and sister-inlaw, Carol; as well as extended family and friends from around the globe.

Jillian spent her childhood through high school in the Berkeley home of her parents, building lifelong friendships with neighbors and in the local schools she attended that would become the inspiration for the K-8 charter school, Wildflower Open Classroom, which she co-founded and served as President of the Board of Directors in Chico, Calif. Jillian believed in educational experiences that empower children and value their voices as co-creators of knowledge and in the power of field experiences and travel to inspire learning. Please see the scholarship created in her name below.

Jillian received her Bachelor’s in Public Policy, and a prestigious Watson award, from Occidental College in 1989. In 2022, Occidental profiled Jillian’s educational journey that inspired her career dedicated to the provision of healthcare for migrant workers and their families. Following graduation from Occidental, she received master’s degrees in Public Policy and in Latin American Studies from the University of Texas, Austin. http:// tinyurl.com/Jillian-Occidental-tribute

In her professional role as Chief Program Officer of Education and Communication of the Migrant Clinician’s Network, Jillian “supported the education of thousands of clinicians across the country, equipping them with the tools and knowledge to meet the health needs of their migrant and immigrant patients on a wide range of issues.” MCN wrote a tribute to Jillian and has established a scholarship in her name for others pursuing careers that support migrant health. http://tinyurl.com/JillianMCN-tribute

Jillian and her husband, Geoff designed their lives with their three children at the center, integrating them into their work lives, passions and travels. While the kids were young, Jillian began planning for the three discovery trips she would take separately with each child when they turned 15, getting to know them as the individuals they had become. Nathaniel, Owen and Kate were responsible for all aspects of these shared adventures with their mom. Known also for her culinary skills and hosting Sunday gatherings where she would bring new people into the fold, Jillian gardened and cooked like she lived her life, with a deep love of nature, using spices from around the world, and a generosity of spirit.

Jillian had a vibrant curiosity about the world and people she cared about. Friends describe transformational conversations they had with her around fire pits and in the field. She focused on you with her whole self. She checked in with people about their lives with deep pointed questions that never felt like she doubted you, but that she was invested in you with complete confidence in your ability to do or be anything you wanted. She was also a mentor for many, including the international students who called her mom while studying abroad and living with her family. Jillian’s light was incredibly bright, and while she will be missed, those she touched will burn all the brighter for it.

The Hopewell-Hill family extends our sincerest gratitude to the physicians, nurses and hospice caregivers at Enloe hospital for their wonderful care, as well as the family and friends who came to Chico to be with her.

A memorial will be held on June 22, 2024, in Chico,

Calif., details to be posted at: https://www.caringbridge.org/visit/jillianhopewell.

Cards may be mailed to: Geoff Hill and Family, 1647 Diamond Avenue, Chico, Calif. 95928.

In lieu of flowers, send donations to:

Jillian Hopewell Discovery Fund Scholarship, Wildflower Open Classroom

http://tinyurl.com/ Jillian-Wildflower-Scholarship

Or, please mail checks to: Wildflower Open Classroom

2414 Cohasset Rd., Suite 3

Chico, Calif. 95926 Write “Jillian’s Discovery Fund” in memo line

Or, donations may be sent to:

Jillian Hopewell Fellowship, Migrant Clinicians Network

www.migrantclinician.org/ donate/jillian-hopewellfellowship

Or, please mail checks to: Migrant Clinicians Network

P.O. Box 164285 Austin, Texas 78716-4285.