John Robert Hila

On February 26, 2026, John Robert Hila, Sr. (79), peacefully passed away after a short battle with colon cancer.

John was born on October 10, 1946, in Brooklyn, New York, to Stephen and Susan Hila. Raised in Brooklyn, he carried that strength and straightforward spirit with him throughout his life. He eventually moved to Queens and remained, at heart, a true old-school New Yorker.

After graduating from high school, John joined the United States Navy, where he proudly served for four years. Following his honorable discharge, he began working as a mechanic for Pan Am Airlines, a job he truly loved. When Pan Am closed, John went on to work for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, where he dedicated 25 years of service before retiring. John loved cars, mechanics, and trains. He enjoyed understanding how things worked and took pride in fixing them. He loved to travel to the Southwest. He had a great sense of humor, and his jokes could range from playful and bawdy to sharp and cerebral. He had a true zeal for life. He fought until the very end.

John Sr. was loved by so many.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Stephen and Susan Hila; his brothers, Steve and his twin brother, George; and his longtime partner, Patricia (Pat).

He will always be loved, missed, and remembered by his son, John Jr.; his daughter-in-law, Keesha; his niece, Jennifer; his many nieces; his great-nephew, Daniel; Audrey and Trent (Pat); and he is also remembered with affection by his neighbors, his friends, and former co-workers. There are simply too many to name

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