Harold John Hill Jr.

Sandy, Utah-

Harold John Hill, Jr. (77) of Sandy, UT, passed away on August 4, 2023.

Harold was born on March 12, 1946, in Salt Lake City, UT to Harold John Hill, Sr., and Annice Berryman. After graduating from Highland High School, he went on to study business at the University of Utah. In 1966, Harold married his first love, Janice Haun. They went on to have two children, Marlon and Emilie. They later divorced.

While married he earned a Bachelor of Science degree and graduated on June 6, 1969. Working other jobs, he started an accounting business, HJM, Inc., building it to over 40 clients. Harold worked hard his entire life. He was self-made, always making sure the ones he loved had only the best. Harold’s first business venture, partnering with Mark Van Wagoner, was opening a disco club, The Brass Banana, in Aeropress Square in downtown Salt Lake City. He earned his Real Estate License (later his Broker’s License) and started managing several historical buildings in downtown Salt Lake City. During this time, he decided he would start managing his own buildings. So, throughout the rest of his life, Harold bought and sold real estate, making this his primary career. He opened Hill Martin, one of the largest real estate brokerage firms in Salt Lake at the time. He also partnered with Jack Barnard and Bruce Vanderwerff to form Epicurious, Inc. This was the 2nd largest restaurant group in Salt Lake City at the time. Epicurious opened Café Central, American Grill, Casa del Sol (later changed to Bahia Grill), E.I.B.O.’s, Ferrentelli, Tavola & Red’s Frozen Yogurt. Harold also partnered with others to open Eat-a-Burger and Kenji Japanese Grill. He was President and CEO of Bad Ass Coffee Co., probably one of his most shining achievements as he built it not only in the U.S., but internationally. The latter years of his career were managing his own properties and buying/selling real estate.

Throughout Harold’s life he mentored many, many friends and family. Some of his longtime friendships came in 1989 when he counseled Denise Loveless Druce in opening Anatomy Academy in downtown Salt Lake. Through Denise and her aerobics classes, Harold made several longtime friends, not only doing aerobics, but running and biking.

Harold loved to hunt with his son, Marlon, and his grandson, Jake. Each year they’d make the trek to Idaho to go hunting for pheasants. If he came back with nothing it was still a great trip because he was spending time with family and got to eat at his favorite Mexican restaurant. He also loved to go fishing. To wade up and down the Provo River was heaven to Harold. He made so many decisions, solved many problems and came up with ideas when he fished. He always seemed, to somehow, fall in coming home wet.
Harold met Vicki Crocker in 1987, not knowing it at the time, but she would become the “love of his life”. They shared everything together; work, travel, kids (she had 2 kids from a previous marriage, Brad and Sydnee, which he called his own) grandchildren and, most of all golf. They joined Willow Creek Country Club in 2011 where they made many, many more friends.

Harold’s biggest pride and joy were all 8 of his grandkids, Jake, Lauren, Gwyneth, Brynn, Bailey, Bradley, Gabby and Caylee. He made it a point, with Vicki, to take them for a “play date” once a week. He would take them skating, to the arcade, swimming, trampoline parks, fishing, camping, even riding up and down escalators for hours or any other activity they would enjoy. Harold had more fun than they did.
Harold was preceded in death by his grandmother, his father, his mother his stepmother Phyllis and his younger brother Jim. He is survived by his love and longtime life partner, Vicki, half-brothers Terry Hill and Willie Hill both of Boise, ID, son Marlon (Krista) Hill, daughter Emilie Hill, son Brad (Nicole) Crocker, daughter Sydnee (Nate) Coccimiglio, sister-in-law Sandie Martin-Dix (Ken) of North Carolina, sister-in-law Lori Martin-Hatch (Brian), brother-in-law Marty (Vickie) Martin, his beautiful 8 grandchildren and his very close cousin, Margie Porter.

Please join the family in celebrating Harold’s life on August 30, 2023, at Willow Creek Country Club 8505 Willow Creek Drive from 6:00-9:00pm. Harold will be interred at Memorial Redwood Cemetery in a private graveside service. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to either the American Heart Association or Suicide Prevention.