Jill L. (Leatherman) Hatch

As the saying goes, “There’s no school like the old school.”  That may be true, but when Jill Hatch (née Leatherman) passed late last week, the old school lost its headmistress.  The traditional virtues flourished in her: devotion, decency, decorum, fairness, loyalty, duty, resilience, to name a few.  She personified the curriculum of the old school.  We survivors live in modern times, so we are a bit slow on the uptake, and too few perceive that Shakespeare’s Polonius was acting the fool when he advised Laertes, “To thine own self be true.”  Jill knew there are many virtues and convictions far more worthy than whatever notion we individually conjure up from our native selves.  She was true to her school. 

She was born in 1938 in Wheelwright, Kentucky, but her family was pure Findlay, Ohio.  She grew up primarily in Wheelwright, where her father George, a Findlay native and alumnus of The Ohio State University, worked as an electrical engineer.  She graduated from Eastern Kentucky University, where she swam competitively and met her husband, Alden.  Marrying him made her a U.S. Army Officer’s wife during the early days of the Vietnam War.  That was truly a demanding calling, a jealous mistress, back then.  She gave birth to three Army brats, two of whom survive her.  Near the end of Alden’s military career, Jill returned from a second tour of duty in Germany to Findlay.  

She was wholly devoted to her parents, her spouse, her friends, her kids, and her grandkids.  Possibly the only rivals for her affection were her many lovely, even-tempered, pedigreed, and precocious American Cocker Spaniels.  She never, ever missed a school sporting event (including those of her beloved Buckeyes), art expos, or concerts, and rarely missed a good dog show.   She had an eye for beautiful things and a terrific ear for music.  Laverne Baker, Ray Charles, Brook Benton, and Dinah Washington—her collection of 45s is astonishing.  Her annual home decorations for Halloween and Christmas were nothing short of magical, delighting friends and family alike.  Trips to the Lake Erie were also a special joy to Jill, in large part because that’s where she lived her childhood summers and, as Dorothy recited, “There’s no place like home.”     

Jill also worked as a teacher of U.S. soldiers in Germany, was a long-serving substitute teacher in Findlay, and worked as an elections volunteer for many years, where she did it right. 

Jill is survived by two (graying) children, four grandchildren, and many friends.  All will miss her dearly but, at those quiet times, when least expected, they might recall one of Jill’s favorite quotations from A.A. Milne, “But wherever they go, and whatever happens to them on the way, in that enchanted place on the top of the Forest a little boy and his Bear will always be playing.”        

The family would like to invite friends and family of both Jill and Al for an open house celebration of their lives on Saturday, Oct. 5th from 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm at the Life Appreciation Center, 219 W. Sandusky St. in Findlay.  In lieu of flowers, donations to the Humane Society & SPCA of Hancock County, Findlay, OH are most appreciated.

Online condolences may be shared with the family at www.kirkpatrickbehnke.com.

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