John “Jack” David Hilton, of Largo, Florida, passed away Wednesday, February 21, 2018, at Largo Medical Center. He was with friends and family during his brief illness.

A memorial service will be hosted by his friend, Marjorie Brandt, on March 13 at Brookdale Pinecrest Place, 1150 8th Avenue, Largo, FL. Celebration of Life services in Worcester, MA, and Sunapee, NH, will be announced later.

Jack was born on July 28, 1927, to John E. and Eunice R. (Simpson) Hilton in Worcester, MA. Preceded in death by his wife, Nancy L. (Smith) Hilton, he leaves his three sons David, Mark, and Scott, their wives, seven grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren, as well as his companion, Marjorie Brandt.

A US Veteran of WW11, Jack served his country in the United States Coast Guard Reserves and then in the United States Coast Guard. Later, he attended college at Clark University, Worcester, MA, and completed his degree in Professional Photography at Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY. Jack was a talented photographer, founding Hilton Photography, Worcester, MA, in 1949. He was a long-time member in the Professional Photographers Association of Massachusetts, serving as President. He earned the recognition degrees of Master of Photography and Photographic Craftsman from the Professional Photographers Association of America. He was an active member of the Worcester Rotary Club for many years.

Upon retirement in 2008, he and his wife Nancy moved to Lake Sunapee, NH, where the family had spent many summers. Eventually, after summering in NH and wintering in Florida, Jack and his wife became full-time residents of Florida, where they enjoyed the company of their many friends, playing golf, listening to “Big Band” music, and exploring the Tampa Bay and surrounding area.