Maja Trochimczyk, Marlene Hitt and Lloyd Hitt at the 4th of July Parade in 2018
Village Poets of Sunland-Tujunga have said their farewells to Dr. Lloyd Hitt, a retired pharmacist, community activist, poet, and a recipient of our 2019 Lifetime Achievement Award shared with his wife, Marlene Hitt.
The Celebration of Life ceremony took place on Saturday, 19 November 2022 at the New Hope Church in Sunland, with over 100 people in attendance. The event included live music played on flute, keyboard, prayers and speeches, the presentation of the flag to the widow of this Korean War veteran, complete with Taps beautifully played on the trumpet, and a luncheon during which the attendees could share their memories of Lloyd and his impact on their lives.
During the "official" part of the event, Joe DeCenzo read the Eulogy, prepared by Lloyd's son Robert. It is here reproduced in its entirety.
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Lloyd Hitt (1932-2022)
Lloyd Hitt was born February 18, 1932 in San Jose California. His father was Bill Hitt, mother Lorraine and sister Marilyn. He was born during The Great Depression. He grew up in a Christian home and his childhood was primarily during the wartime effort. His father, Bill, was an aircraft mechanic, pilot and chief inspector for McDonnell aircraft. Lloyd’s family, like most families at that time, did not have a lot of money, lived a frugal life, and moved often following wherever his father’s expertise was needed.
He often talked about the various places he lived as a boy. Oklahoma, where his father promptly had Lloyd dig a long ditch for a place to shelter in case of tornados. Or Daggett, where they had a nice house provided right on the airbase. Because it was only a two bedroom, like most homes of that era, his father converted a tool shed out behind the house to a bedroom for Lloyd. He remembered how cold it was in the winter and enjoyed the kerosene heater. They had to move again because, as a Christian woman of that era, his mom did not like how the other ladies enjoyed evening cocktails. His father found a small one room cottage in the nearby town of Newberry Springs. He often spoke of the one room schoolhouse where the teacher was about 90 and pulled from retirement to teach his class.
Lloyd picked, dried and shucked a large sack of walnuts and sold them to the PX on base for $7 and used that money to buy his first .22 rifle. He felt like he was in heaven wandering the vast desert with his .22 and would look for turtles, rabbits and snakes. He also would ride his ex polo pony and said that horse would turn and stop so fast he could hardly hang on.
He lived in many other areas like Pacoima, Canoga Park and finally Sunland where his father always would convert a chicken coop, garage attic or even have Lloyd live in a tent out in the yard so his younger sister, Marilyn, could have her own room. But he never complained about any of that. We believe it was part of the adventure of life to him.
At the age of 16, he started working at Sunland Pharmacy. He would clean the floors, burn the trash and was finally promoted to soda jerk. I don’t believe he paid much mind to the owner’s daughter at that time as she was 4 years younger, more to follow on that. Lloyd attended Verdugo Hills High School, where he learned to play the saxophone and joined the band. He went on to Glendale College where he worked for his associates’ degree. He also attended UCLA.
Growing up with a father in the aircraft industry, he signed up to be a pilot in the air force. While waiting for that call, he was drafted into the Army. He said when he was in boot camp the call for the Air Force came in, unfortunately his commanding Officer informed him he was now Army property. He said he never regretted it.
The Korean war had been going on for some time when he was shipped to an outpost named pork chop hill. While en route, he would tell Bobby, “The trucks were coming down with the dead and wounded as fast as the trucks were going up with fresh troops.” He would say, “not a guy in those trucks could spit, their mouths were so dry from fear and not a word was spoken.”
He befriended a Corporal named White. They shared a machine gun nest together. The tripod on the .50 cal machine gun was broken and White told Lloyd that he saw one laying on the side of the road a few miles back. Lloyd found the tripod but was spotted by the enemy. Mortars came in and somehow, other than some shrapnel in his arm, he was spared. He delivered the tripod and was sent to medical for treatment. That night his nest took a direct hit and his friend White was killed.
He had shared his stories with the family over the years without much emotion, but it wasn’t until his dementia was advanced and he was blindly expressing things that they discovered for all those years, he had mastered the suppression of his PTSD. You never heard one regret about the Army, it taught him so much about life and made him a strong man. He was deeply appreciative of the Army GI bill affording him the chance to attend USC and become a pharmacist.
Something else happened when he was overseas, the boss’s daughter I mentioned earlier, her name was Marlene. She had been writing him letters. Now both mature with some life experience, a romance evolved. They were married in 1956 at St Mark's Church in Glendale. Married 66 years, she was his only love as he repeated again and again-that he loved her dearly.
Lloyd was always a leader. When studying at USC, he became president of his fraternity and class president of the USC School of Pharmacy where he graduated with honors. Many hours were spent at the dinette table of the newlyweds studying.
Lloyd was a great father to Jeanette and Bobby, their words. He took them to ride the family horses through the Wash and through the hills, and he and Bobby took the horses backpacking in the wilderness of the Sierra. He would take the family camping and fishing and was always supportive... Both Bobby and Jeanette worked with him at Hober’s Pharmacy, the store opened by Marlene’s parents. It was a nice way to be together after school or during vacations. Always busy at the Pharmacy, they looked forward to every other weekend at home with him. It would usually be a workday around the house and church on Sunday. For many years, during this time, Lloyd devoted himself to leadership and fellowship at Sunland Baptist Church of course, now called New Hope Community Church.
Upon retirement, like most new retirees, he searched for a new direction. He did things like
making Lincoln logs for the grandkids. He made a miniature adobe mission, walking sticks, and he loved to work in the garden. Marlene donated her time as a docent and historian at Bolton Hall Museum and Lloyd joined her. Once again, him being the leader, he soon became the President of the Little Landers Historical Society that runs Bolton Hall. There he fought for upgrades to the building such as a new flagpole that hadn’t been replaced since 1914; a new roof and re-landscape the surrounding park prompted him to correspond with city dignitaries sometime to their chagrin. There he also started a movement to preserve local landmarks such as the castle style homes and original structures in our area. He also spent years on a movement to preserve a place at the local Verdugo Hills golf course as it was previously a WWII internment site. Tuna Camp Detention Station now has historical status.
With so much energy and so much willingness to give, he became interested in poetry, writing, some travel, paleontology, home improvement, community activities, and family life. Lloyd Hitt spent the last 18 weeks of his life in Montrose Health Care facility, suffering from Alzheimer’s Disease. A devastating end to 90 years of love, devotion, fortitude and service. Lloyd’s was a life well lived.
~ Eulogy by Robert Hitt, presented by Joe DeCenzo
Lloyd and Marlene as Grand Marshalls of the Parade
All attendees of the Celebration of Life received a booklet with a brief biography, photograph, program and a lovely poem by Marlene Hitt. Here's her poem:
To You, W.L.H
On the shore once we stood
watching waves take the sand
I close to you
holding my hand
The back of our future
a long time ago
we see clearly now
passed quickly, passed slow
Herb and poultice
salve and balm
gentled soft on wounds
healed, now are gone
On the far shore of the future
still together we stand
I - close to you, you -
holding my hand
Marlene, Dublin, July 10, 2000
There were many speeches at the community-hall part of the Celebration of Life, many memories, many tears. As representative of Village Poets of Sunland-Tujunga, a group somewhat not well remembered by other attendees, Maja Trochimczyk recalled Lloyd's help during Monthly Poetry Readings at Bolton Hall. Even though he had served as the President of the Little Landers Historical Society, Lloyd was not afraid of the broom: he swept crumbs left by poets after the refreshments were served, and made sure that everything was in good order when the poets left Bolton Hall in the evening. That's "Servant Leadership" at its best! And a great example to future generations of community activists.
Maja also read two poems by Lloyd from a book of poetry The Earth Time that Moonrise Press published in 2018 and Marlene Hitt edited. These insightful poems show Lloyd's gifts of observation and reflection about life.
The Earth Time is a unique poetry collection documenting a lifetime of service of Dr. Lloyd Hitt, a Californian, pharmacist, USC graduate, Korean War veteran, writer, and community activist. The book of 46 poems is divided into five sections, focusing on: the contemplation of natural beauty and power (The Earth Time), dramatic experiences of WWII (The War Time), memories of the past that passed away too quickly (The Memory Time), milestones of a well-lived life (The Life Time), and the time of love, primarily for his wife, poet and historian Marlene Hitt (The Love Time). Dr. Hitt received many awards and honors for his tireless and dedicated community service.
ISBN 9781945938320, paperback, $16.00
ISBN 978-1-945938-33-7, ebook, in ePub system, $10.00
Alone in Paris
Standing at the top
a million miles away
I’m alone
Below, Paris
glows with a million lights
I sense you near
The Eiffel is crowded,
exotic voices everywhere
Your voice is silent
Lovers walk hand in hand,
far below, and
I feel your touch
Lamps, light
the River Seine
Your breath on my cheek
Headlights circling ever faster
the Arc de Triomphe
As a racing heartbeat
Steel girders feel cold to my touch
but I know
I’m not alone
(c) Lloyd Hitt, from "The Earth Time" by Moonrise Press, 2018
The Eiffel Tower, photo by Maja Trochimczyk
The Color of Life
You and I rode
a grain of sand falling
through the eye of the glass
You and I sat
by a yellow crackling fire
sunrise lit the valley below
You and I felt
the golden warmth of a smile
from across the room
You and I saw
the love of our newborn…
a blue velvet lullaby
You and I wandered
through fields of orange poppies
on a desert floor, wondering why
You and I looked
at the darkness of night
the blackness cradled the stars
You and I listened
to a rainbow of verse,
when first read
You and I succumbed
to the eye of the glass, grain by grain
leaving yesterday’s sand behind
All this, you and I were
full of life because
you were there.
(C) by Lloyd Hitt, from "The Earth Time" (Moonrise Press, 2018).
Among other speakers, Pamela Shea of Village Poets read her poem written for this occasion:
Well Done, Lloyd, Well Done!
by Pamela Shea
In remembering Lloyd, I think of a strong oak tree,
Protecting, serving, providing shelter wherever planted.
Family, friends, country, and community are all blessed.
His legacy lives in all of us through good deeds and planting seeds.
Look around, Lloyd lives on among us; hear his song, he is never gone!
(c) 2022 by Pamela Shea
In 2019, Village Poets presented Marlene and Lloyd with a Lifetime Achievement Award for promoting poetry in the foothills. He got plenty of other honors, medals and distinctions, but we want to remember that he shared the world of poetry with us.
http://villagepoets.blogspot.com/2019/08/marlene-and-lloyd-hitts-lifetime.html
Lifetime Achievement Award for Marlene and Lloyd Hitt from Village Poets
Celebration of Life Programs and flag with medals.
A selection of Lloyd's honors and recognition
