Dr. Gerald (Jerry) Hiller ’65 is a Golden Bruin who was part of Padua Franciscan High School’s first-ever graduating class. Those four years learning within the Franciscan tradition have had a lasting impact.
Padua was more than a school to Hiller, as it represented “a way of life” that presented him an opportunity to cultivate relationships and sense of “community.”
“When I came to Padua, we felt that we were part of something new that we were creating, and it would soon be great,” Hiller said. “I liked the feeling of brotherhood, and working with people others ignored.”
During his time at Padua, Hiller became a member of both student council and the National Honor Society, band, and Drama Club, as well as a basketball cheerleader. Studying music under the late Mr. Wayne Miller made a profound impact on Hiller, as he continues lessons to this day.
Currently, Hiller is studying the French horn, and has been in his adopted hometown of Chicago, Illinois, for the last 25 years.
“Padua, for me, was a chance for a shy boy to come out of his shell, and I’m still trying to come out of my shell,” Hiller said. “The plays introduced me to that. I never realized that would be part of my life -- being a public speaker, being on television, radio, even an extra on West Wing.”
Following his graduation, Hiller served with the Franciscans for nine years, and that opened his eyes to the world outside of “growing up in the suburbs.” He enjoyed the brotherhood and praying the Psalms, and made the move from Cleveland to Chicago.
At Corpus Christi School, Hiller was a junior-high teacher. It was during this time that he started parenting programs to help the community members raise “responsible and emotionally healthy children.” Also, he served at Christ Hospital to help those taking care of aging parents.
Hiller became a clinical psychologist during this time, and studied in the tradition of Alfred Adler, who “believed that all problems were between people, not inside of us.” He founded his successful lunch therapy program, “Repair My House,” afterward and has been working with Chicagoans for the last 40 years.
Hiller, and his wife, Marilynn Rochon, have held nearly 1,100 talks since the program’s founding.
“People tell us, ‘I thought I was the only one that had these problems,’” Hiller said. “It’s part of being a human being, and we’re trying to help people reduce the toxic stress of daily hassles and life transitions, which is called allostatic load, and increase feelings of well-being. I just hope that people feel that’s something special that they have, that they can develop and share with other people. In doing so, they’re going to feel more at home wherever they go.”
“I feel compelled to articulate the concerns of ordinary people and teach them living skills. My concern now is there’s not enough encouragement going around. Right now, there is a feeling of discouragement because of what we hear about cruel, mean, greedy people who don’t follow the rules. But in my daily life, I try to make these encounters, these daily hassles, go better so that people can take time to become themselves and live out what their purpose is.”
Since graduating 50 years ago, part of Hiller’s purpose has been helping others experience the gift of a Padua education.
Hiller’s three nieces – Lisa Krall ’00 (school administrator), Michelle Krall ’02 (paralegal) and Megan Krall ’04 (nurse) -- are Padua graduates who focus on helping others in their careers. Also, Hiller is a member of The Friar Club.
“I would like other people to have the Padua experience,” Hiller said. “The students don’t know this, but they’re experiencing living the gospel. I’m excited when I meet students. These students have an enthusiasm. I said last year for The Friar Club, ‘Wow, this feeling of community, Padua is more than a fine high school. It’s a beginning of a way of life, and I want others to know it.’”
“What I like about the Franciscans is Francis was, as he and the brothers were going, just living on minimal and trusting in God. There were Franciscan theologians, and one of them was John Duns Scotus, who said that each of us has something special about us. He called it ‘our essence, our thisness.’ My dream for the students -- and the parents as they go through with their children -- is to develop this specialness: ‘This what I can give, what I like to do, the intersection of what I like to do, what I’m good at, and what the world needs.’”
