Hillman Family Connections

July 26, 2025 – Puzzle Discussion

JAN AND/OR JOHN


MET @ PEARY, LATER TO MARRY

As previously discussed in a family puzzle, both Jan and John attended Peary School on the base at Quonset. I can’t seem to keep track of John’s timeline but there was some period that his family lived out of state. I believe John’s family was back in NK for his high school years. However, Jan and John only started dating years later when John stopped at the gas station where she was working.


1st SPROUT-2nd TUG B/C OF MUG?

Jan and John’s children, of course, are Sarah and Mike. Sarah’s nickname for a long while was Sprout. Mike had a nickname of Tug but it didn’t “stick” as well as Sarah’s. I think the story behind Mike’s shorter-lived nickname is that Jan noticed Mike had the same face shape as baseball pitcher Tug McGraw. I could be wrong on this.


BLUE VAN & DOG NAMED DYL(-)AN

Jan owned a blue van which I remember being used for trips to Provincetown and Vermont as well as Breakheart Pond. She also had a pretty awesome dog, named Dylan.


@ TEXAS A&M, HE STUDIED STEM

As mentioned above, Jan and John both graduated from North Kingstown High School. From there Jan went on to study Education at the University of Rhode Island while John ventured off to Texas A&M University. I can’t say with absolute certainty what his exact major was, but without a doubt, it was some form of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math).

Below is a photo of Jan and John with Sarah at Christmas 1974.

BEV AND/OR TOM



BAKING COOKIES-HE’S NO ROOKIE!

A family Christmas party would not be complete without Tom’s chocolate chip cookies. He’s been baking ’em and bringing ’em for years now and we all love them.


HER AUNT = HIS SISTER, YES, MR

It seems like it might take pages to explain this but it really shouldn’t. Bev’s Aunt Liz is Tom’s sister. Liz is Bev’s aunt because Liz is married to Bev’s Uncle Bob (Claire’s brother). Got it? It really isn’t that hard unless you allow it to be.

Below is a picture of Bev’s Aunt Liz/Tom’s sister Liz.


LOTS&LOTS OF ROCKS ON THE LOT

When Bev and Tom moved to Ten Rod Road, a foundation was dug for the modular home they were going to place on the property. To say there were a few boulders excavated is an understatement. The rocks filled the front yard to the extent that it’s doubtful that the house could be seen from the street. The pile became a landmark on the road during the year and a half or so that it was there before the rocks were removed and brought to Wickford to be used in a portion of a sea wall there.


EARLY DINERO SPENT ON CAMARO

I visited Bev and Tom recently to get the picture of the rocks that filled their yard. I really should have asked for a photo of Tom’s Camaro. I believe I’m remembering this correctly — that Tom had a Camaro way back when, someone tell me if I’m wrong.

Below is a photo of Bev and Tom with Gil and Claire. The calendar in the background (from Prime Drug) is opened to May but I can’t determine the year.

NORMA AND/OR CHRIS


NOW PAULA-THEN SHORE-ANY MORE?

Norma and Chris lived on Shore Drive in NK in the late 70s/early 80s. They moved to Paula Drive when Dave was a baby (or was it even before Dave was born?). I can’t remember if/where they may have lived together before Shore Drive. I know Norma lived in a rented house on Mark Drive but I don’t know if Chris lived there.


A SEABEE WAS HE

I’m going out on a limb here. I know Chris was in Quonset when when he was in the Navy AND I’m thinking I learned (and forgot?) from responses to an earlier family puzzle that he was a Seabee.



ESTIMATING&TRCTR-TRAILER-ATING

I estimate it would take me another 4 days to come up with rhyming clues no longer than 30 characters if I did’t allow myself the leeway I have in many of these.

Norma worked for many years as an estimator (finishing her career in that position at EB in Quonset) while Chris hauled a variety of materials on various routes in various tractor-trailers.



WEDDNG COINCIDES W OTHER BRIDE

Norma and Chris’s wedding anniversary is August 13th as is that of Michaela and Jay.

Below is a photo of Norma and Chris with Dave while on vacation in New Hampshire with the Josephs.

KAREN AND/OR LOU


RECENTLY GOT WISE & DOWNSIZED

Karen and Lou’s first house was on Paige Drive in Coventry followed by a beautiful home on John Franklin Road in Hope, RI. They lived there for many years and hosted the family Christmas party every year. Within the last 18 months (?) Karen and Lou downsized and relocated to Carrs Pond Road in West Greenwich. I placed a question mark in that last sentence because I’m guessing but regardless, it’s been long enough that I think they’re starting to feel settled in there.


STATE EMPLOYEES WERE THEE(S)

Karen and Lou were in fact both employees of the State of Rhode Island. I’m not sure what it would have been called when Lou finished his career there but it’s now called the Department of Behavioral Healthcare, Developmental Disabilities & Hospitals. Karen finished her career within the Department of Transportation. They both, I believe, started their time working for the state at the Joseph H. Ladd School in Exeter.



48HOUR STARS-NOT THE YR W CARS

Karen in Lou have appeared on-screen in numerous Chickens vs. Sputnik productions. They’ve also been involved when they have not appeared on-screen, however, they were not involved the first year the team participated. The movie that year was, What a Day, What a Story which features a fun car chase.



ATTENDED LA SALLE, GOT IT PAL?

Lou grew up in Providence and attended La Salle Academy there. Time to get this thing posted, this is as crafty as I’m getting.

Below is a photo of Karen in Lou taken I believe the Christmas they announced they were planning to marry (so 1979, I think).

Nancy Knott

8 responses to “July 26, 2025 – Puzzle Discussion”

  1. Happy Aunts and Uncles Day everyone.

    So, you can see the “theme” of this week’s puzzle is in fact Aunts and Uncles, but since there’s only 4 groupings, that’s all you get…

    or is it?

    NO IT’S NOT. This week, and this week only, there will be additional puzzles – all dedicated to the AUNTS AND UNCLES theme. However, unlike today’s puzzle the aunts and uncles featured in the additional puzzles are not the aunts and uncles of the sibling generation but instead people that are aunts and uncles TO those in the sibling generation.

    So, information about Claire and Gil’s siblings and their spouses.

    I often hear a story about John not wanting to commit to learning the names of the members of the Blais family – the Hillmans were enough. I like to call this the “Blais Limitation” and I acknowledge and accept that everyone has there own Blais Limitation level and I feel as a concept, it applies WITHIN families, so, no pressure, if you feel your head will explode with information tacked to MY aunts and uncles feel free to skip the additional puzzles. Personally, I think it might be a nice thing to know a little something about your grandparents’ or great-grandparents’ siblings.

    The additional puzzles will drop on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.

    Have a great week and Happy Aunt and Uncles Day to all.

  2. Great pictures! I really liked the one of the rock pile! I remember that but forgot how big! Chris did not remember the rocks. I must have met him right after that. I wish I could blow the picture of Bev + Tom up enough to read the year on the calendar! So young! And yes Chris was a Seabee.

    • I’ll take another look at that photo later – I might be able to pull it out.

  3. I actually got this one in one try. I don’t remember seeing the rocks or camero. Made some educated guesses on some. Remembered sprout but not Tug.

    • Wow! I’m surprised you don’t remember the rocks. I’m glad I had Bev and Tom track down a photo. Note that it has a light leak on the right side leading me to believe it was the last image on the roll and probably just a quick shot to finish the roll and get out for processing.

  4. Fun one! But actually got it first try, no going in and out!

    Happy Aunts and Uncles Day! Is that really a thing or just for the puzzle?

    And mmmmmmm, now I want some of Uncle Tom’s chocolate chip cookies!

    Doesn’t Amber also share an anniversary with someone?

  5. I don’t believe Amber shares an anniversary with anyone. Karens birthday however is also on the 13th same as my anniversary and Michaela’s.