Bennett David Hill ’56 *63

Ben, a native of Baltimore and a resident of Doylestown, Pa., died Feb. 26, 2005.

Ben came to Princeton from Central High School in Philadelphia, majored in history, joined Prospect Club, and was active in Whig-Clio. He was one of Princeton's early African-American graduates.

Ben received his master's from Harvard in 1958 and his Ph.D. from Princeton in medieval history in 1963. He taught for two years at the University of Western Ontario before joining the faculty of the University of Illinois, where his years of service led to the chairmanship of the history department before his retirement. Ben also served as a visiting professor at Georgetown University. In 1978, Ben co-authored A History of Western Society, and five years later co-authored A History of World Societies. Both books have passed through many editions and are read in history clasSrooms around the country. A deeply spiritual man and a student of medieval monasticism, Ben was ordained a Benedictine monk in 1985. He loved gardening, cooking, and antiques.

Ben attended our 45th reunion, and we hoped to see him at our 50th. He is survived by his mother, Muriel Hill; a sister, Beverly Lomax; and several nieces and nephews, to whom we extend our condolences.

The Class of 1956