Hilliard L. Lubin, 95, died on July 24, 2017 at Sussman House in Rockport. For the past 25 years Hilly had lived on Highland Avenue in Camden with his beloved wife, Aileen, who died in 2012. In recent years, he was a resident of Anderson Inn at Quarry Hill.

He was born June 11, 1922 to Sara Ricklin and Nathan Lubin in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He is survived by his children, Brian Lubin and his wife, Claudia, of Belgrade, Montana, and by Nancy Lubin, of Camden, as well as his grandchildren: Sara Lubin, of Boston; Zachary Lubin, of Phoenix, Arizona; and Manaan Alexander, of Brooklyn, New York. Manaan is the daughter of Nancy Lubin and Jim Mays. Hilliard’s sister, Doris Bass, died in 2015.

He graduated from University of Pennsylvania in 1944 where he was enrolled in Navy ROTC. After graduation, Hillard joined the Pacific Fleet, on the destroyer USS Bush, LTJG Bush was Assistant Gunnery Officer.

The ship was sunk by three kamikazes while off Okinawa in April 1945. Lubin was awarded a Purple Heart during action where 87 of the ships crew were lost. He was a faithful attendee of USS Bush reunions for many years.

He married Aileen Pearl Gottlieb in 1947 after he was discharged from the Navy. He was active in a number of ventures that took him and Aileen to far-flung parts of the world. 

Living in Marion, Massachusetts, during the 1950s, Hilliard was involved in the development of the world’s first twin-engine civil helicopter, the Omega BS-12D, an innovative twin-engine helicopter with designer, sculptor and friend Bernard Sznycer. During that period, Hilly and Aileen helped found the Marion Art Center, in which he often played lead roles.

And by the late 1960s, Hilliard was in Chaing Mai, high in the mountains of northern Thailand, core sampling with a geological team exploring for fluorite, an important ingredient in TEFLON. 

Returning from Thailand, Hilliard went back to one of his life’s major interests: marine navigation. He co-authored a book, Marine Radar and How to Use It. That launched Hilliard into the field that consumed most of his professional life from there on — as an expert witness in marine navigation.

As a Life Member of the Marine Law Association, he was regarded as one of the country’s top legal experts on maritime accidents, particularly those involving RADAR. As the founder of IMS, International Maritime Systems, Hilly was an early adopter of the computer, developing his unique and powerful ICRA system to precisely interpret ship course recordings. In the court room, he was an indomitable presence, perhaps much influenced by his theatrical experience. Rarely could opposing counsel successful challenge Hillard’s confident testimony. 

Once Hillard and Aileen moved to Camden in the early 1980s, he focused exclusively on his maritime practice and his leading role as expert witness. Hilliard had a sloop, TEHO (“To Each His Own), which the family sailed on.

Naturally, of course, he was a willing recruit of many of Aileen’s many civic interests, including Merryspring, which he toured every afternoon with their various cherished dogs including Skipper, Gomez and Kye_O.

Hillard was an active subscriber, supporter and board member of Bay Chamber Concerts. He participated in monthly events of the Midcoast Forum on Foreign Relations as well as the Propeller Club. 

There will be a service of remembrance at the Veterans Memorial on the Camden Village Green at 2 p.m. on November 24. All are welcome to attend.