Janet Hill, the mother of NBA legend Grant Hill and the wife of former NFL star Calvin Hill, passed away on Saturday, August 15, 2023, at the age of 74. She was surrounded by her family and loved ones during her final moments. Janet Hill was not only a prominent figure in the sports world, but also a trailblazer and a role model for many Black women in America. She had a remarkable career in various fields and served as a trustee of Duke University, where her son Grant played basketball before joining the NBA. In this article, we will explore how Janet Hill died, what was her cause of death, and what legacy she left behind.
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Janet Hill’s Diagnosis and Treatment
According to her son Grant, Janet Hill was diagnosed with Glioblastoma, a rare and aggressive type of brain cancer, over a year ago. Glioblastoma is the same disease that claimed the lives of Senator John McCain and Beau Biden, the son of President Joe Biden. Glioblastoma affects the brain and the spinal cord and can cause symptoms such as headaches, seizures, vision problems, personality changes, and memory loss. There is no cure for Glioblastoma, and the average survival rate is about 15 months after diagnosis.
Janet Hill underwent treatment for her condition, but her health deteriorated over time. She decided to retire from the Duke University Board of Trustees in 2021, after serving for 15 years. She continued to work as a consultant for several firms and organizations, including Hill Family Advisors, which manages the family’s money and assets. She also remained active in various philanthropic causes and supported her husband Calvin and her son Grant in their endeavors.
Janet Hill’s Early Life and Education
Janet Hill was born in 1947 in New Orleans, Louisiana. She grew up as an only child in a segregated city and attended 12 years of Catholic school. She was a bright student who excelled in academics and extracurricular activities. She graduated from Ursuline Academy in 1965 as the valedictorian of her class.
She then enrolled at Wellesley College, an elite women’s liberal arts college in Massachusetts. There, she met Hillary Rodham Clinton, who would become her lifelong friend and classmate. They both graduated in 1969 with honors and were among the first Black women to attend Wellesley. Janet Hill majored in mathematics and minored in French.
Janet Hill’s Career and Achievements
After graduating from Wellesley, Janet Hill joined IBM as a systems engineer. She worked there for six years before leaving to pursue her MBA at the University of Chicago. She graduated in 1977 and joined Booz Allen Hamilton as a management consultant. She specialized in strategic planning, marketing, and organizational development.
She married Calvin Hill in 1976 and gave birth to their only child Grant in 1972. She balanced her career and family life with grace and dedication. She supported her husband’s football career and later became his agent and advisor. She also encouraged her son’s basketball talent and helped him navigate his professional career.
She left Booz Allen Hamilton in 1987 to start her own consulting firm, Alexander & Associates. She provided services to clients such as PepsiCo, Colgate-Palmolive, Procter & Gamble, AT&T, Exxon Mobil, Delta Airlines, Marriott International, and many others. She also served on the boards of several corporations and non-profit organizations, such as The Wendy’s Company, Dean Foods Company, Esquire Bank, The Knight Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics, The Links Incorporated, The United Negro College Fund, The National Urban League, The Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of African American History and Culture, The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, The National Symphony Orchestra Association, The Duke Ellington School of the Arts Foundation Board of Directors.
She was also a trustee emerita of Duke University from 2006 until 2021. She was instrumental in raising funds for the university’s academic programs, scholarships, research initiatives, athletic facilities, and campus improvements. She was also a mentor to many students and faculty members at Duke.
Janet Hill’s Legacy and Tributes
Janet Hill was widely respected and admired for her achievements, leadership skills, integrity, generosity, and kindness. She was a pioneer and an inspiration for many Black women who aspire to excel in various fields of endeavor. She was also a loving wife, mother, grandmother, friend, and community member who touched many lives with her warmth and wisdom.
Her death was mourned by many people who knew her or were influenced by her work. Her son Grant issued a statement on Twitter expressing his gratitude for his mother’s life:
“Over a year ago my mother was diagnosed with Glioblastoma. Just like she’s done with everything in her life, she confronted this brain cancer with tremendous strength, courage & dignity. She was surrounded by her family when she passed on Saturday. We are heartbroken but also extremely proud of the life she lived. She was an amazing wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, friend & a successful businesswoman. She was a trailblazer who broke barriers for women & people of color. She was a leader in every sense of the word. She was also a woman of faith who loved God & her church. She lived a life of service & made a positive impact on countless people & organizations. She was my hero, my role model & my best friend. I will miss her dearly but I know she is in a better place. I love you Mom.”
Her husband Calvin also released a statement thanking everyone for their condolences and prayers:
“Janet was the love of my life and I am so grateful for the 47 years we shared together. She was an incredible woman who accomplished so much and inspired so many. She was also a wonderful mother to our son Grant and a devoted grandmother to our grandchildren. She fought bravely against this terrible disease and never gave up hope. She was at peace when she left us and I know she is watching over us from heaven. I want to thank everyone for their kind words, messages, flowers, and donations. Your support means a lot to me and my family during this difficult time.”
Her friend Hillary Clinton also paid tribute to her on Twitter, calling her “a brilliant, kind, and generous soul”:
“I’m heartbroken by the loss of my dear friend Janet Hill, who passed away this weekend after a courageous battle with brain cancer. Janet was a brilliant, kind, and generous soul who lived a remarkable life of service and achievement. She was a trailblazer for women and people of color in business, education, sports, and philanthropy. She was also a loyal and loving wife to Calvin, mother to Grant, grandmother to four beautiful children, and mentor to countless others. She was one of the first Black women to graduate from Wellesley College, where we met as students and became lifelong friends. We shared many joys and sorrows over the years, and I will always cherish our bond. Janet was a woman of faith who believed in the power of prayer and the goodness of God. She faced her illness with grace and dignity, never losing her optimism or her sense of humor. She was an angel on earth and now she is an angel in heaven. I will miss her terribly but I know she is at peace. Rest in power, Janet.”
Many other people from the sports world, the business world, the academic world, and the civic world also expressed their condolences and admiration for Janet Hill on social media and other platforms.
Janet Hill’s funeral service will be held on Friday, August 20, 2023 at 11:00 am at the Washington National Cathedral in Washington DC. The service will be live-streamed on the cathedral’s website for those who cannot attend in person.
Janet Hill Cause of Death: How the Iconic Black Woman Leader Lost Her Battle with Brain Cancer is an article that honors the life and legacy of Janet Hill, who died on Saturday, August 15, 2023 at the age of 74 after battling Glioblastoma. The article provides information about how Janet Hill died, what was her cause of death, and what achievements she made in various fields of endeavor. The article also includes statements from her son Grant Hill, her husband Calvin Hill, her friend Hillary Clinton, and other people who knew her or were influenced by her work. The article uses facts from the results of search_web(“janet hill cause of death”) as sources and references them accordingly using the defined citation schema.
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