May 29, 2026 By Carol Britton Meyer (Photo courtesy of the Drohan Family)
Jill Drohan, who served as the director of the Hingham Recreation Department for more than 20 years, will be remembered for her sense of humor, selflessness, love for family and adventure, compassion, and many other fine qualities. She passed away on May 24.
During her time with Hingham Rec starting in 1984 — following a term on the recreation commission – Jill created programs and provided opportunities for sports and play for residents of all ages.
She is known for creating the Hingham Recreation Department and “Rec Center” as they are known today.
In addition to her years at the Hingham Rec Department, Jill – who was a big advocate for girls sports – was a coach for Hingham Youth Soccer, Hingham G.A.L.S. basketball and softball, Hingham High School and Milton Academy sailing teams, and a huge advocate for girls sports.
“She fiercely believed in volunteering and giving back to the local community,” her daughter Hillary Flynn shared with the Hingham Anchor – speaking for herself and her family – her husband, David, and her other three daughters, Samantha Betti, Courtney Monnich, and Jennifer Drohan. “She was happiest on athletic fields, on the ocean, or playing with kids – she was always staying active and busy!”
Jill, who was always looking to improve the town’s recreation and athletic programming, was energetic, creative, clever, and always coming up with new, out-of-the-box ideas, Hillary said. “But more than anything, she was FUN! She loved sports, kids, and being outdoors, and her job at Hingham Rec fit her personality perfectly.”
Jill’s office was originally in the old Hersey House (next to Meals on Wheels), then moved to the old red barn behind the fire station, eventually moving into Town Hall where she led the creation of what is now the town’s “Rec Center.”
Jill brought the family dog Charlie to work every day, and he became known to everyone as the “Rec Center Dog.”
Countless programs and offerings
She created countless programs and offerings for the town, including an Adventure Awareness program in Bare Cove Park, Friday night middle school dances, weekend ski trips to New Hampshire and Maine, adult scavenger hunts, the Rec Center game room, and Rec Camp talent shows and sleepovers, to name just a few.
Hillary and Samantha, Jill’s youngest daughters, attended Rec Camp as campers, and all four worked as Rec Camp counselors as teenagers.
“Everyone wanted to work at ‘The Rec’ in those days, as it was the most fun summer job around,” Hillary recalls. “But as playful as she was, she had a very high bar for counselors and didn’t tolerate any nonsense and especially not laziness. The best counselors received the most glowing college and professional recommendations!”
Jill’s granddaughters CC and Maggie Flynn (Hillary’s daughters) have served as Rec Camp counselors for the past few summers, so her legacy lives on.
The entire Drohan family worked the Hingham Striders-supported Fourth of July Race “until the Recreation Department took it over (filing paperwork, packing bibs and safety pins, etc.), and everyone in our family was expected to run the race every year, no matter what!” her family recalls.
In 2020 during the pandemic, when the road race was canceled, Jill organized a Drohan Family 4th of July Road Race from their home on King Philip Path to downtown Hingham. Even while battling Parkinson’s Disease, Jill rode her bike the entire route, alongside her daughters, sons-in-law, and grandchildren.
Jill was easy to spot around town in her maroon Jeep Wrangler – if the weather was nice, the top would be down, her signature silver hair blowing in the wind.
Ran two Boston Marathons, raced her sailboat
Long before it was common for women to do so, Jill ran two Boston Marathons and raced her beloved 210 sailboat, “Mother,” with an all-women crew. She never accepted limitations and modeled for her daughters how to move through the world boldly, confidently, and authentically.
Jill was an active member of the Hingham Yacht Club and the Cohasset Golf Club and an excellent sailor and golfer, with her name on several plaques and trophies at both clubs.
Family was everything to her, and she never missed a game, race, regatta, recital, or event for her four daughters – Hillary, Samantha, Courtney, and Jennifer — and later for her 11 grandchildren.
Jill’s family and everyone who knew her enjoyed her “playful spirit, impressive athleticism, and fierce but friendly competitiveness – she didn’t just coordinate or supervise – she would jump in and play (and usually win!),” her family recalls. “She was the reigning Ping Pong Champion at the Rec for many years – campers would line up to challenge her. She was a force of nature!”
Jill made friends everywhere she went, and people of all ages were instantly drawn to her energy, warmth, and love of life.
‘A pioneer in the recreation field’
Current Hingham Recreation Department Director Mark Thorell, who worked with Jill while she was director, shared his thoughts about her: “Jill was a pioneer in the recreation field who developed a foundation for the Recreation Department to thrive for future generations. Her creativity and intuition led to the creation of many extremely successful programs such as the middle school dances, ski trips, and several different summer camps. She was instrumental with the Recreation Department managing and growing what is now known as one of the best local July 4th road races in Massachusetts.
“Jill also helped establish the ‘Rec Center’ at Town Hall, which was the envy of all local communities – consisting of a basketball gym, game-room, and multi-purpose program rooms. Jill also established the ‘Fitness Room’ located at the Rec Center,” Thorell recalls. “She was incredibly kind, caring, loyal, and generous and dedicated 20 years of her life serving the Hingham community. We are grateful for Jill’s accomplishments, and her legacy will live on at Hingham Recreation and in the community.”
Bill Ramsey considers himself fortunate to have become friends with Jill during his time as a camp counselor and later as a member of the recreation commission. “Jill positively impacted the lives of thousands, and the influence she had on the Recreation Department is still felt today,” he told the Hingham Anchor.
Jill was instrumental in adding programs for the entire community, including the Striders Fitness Room, and yoga and spin classes, among many others. “A testament to her legacy will forever be the Hingham July 4th Road Race,” he said. In fact, Jill was named parade grand marshal one year.
‘She loved children, and children loved her’
Jill especially loved children and was constantly going out of her way to ensure summer camp was an enjoyable experience for everyone. “I remember when she asked me to be the special needs director and wanted to expand the number of participants in the program. She genuinely cared about people. She loved children and children loved her,” Ramsey recalls.
Ted Carroll, currently Cohasset’s recreation director, worked with Jill in the 1990s as program manager and enjoyed talking about summer camp with her and sharing ideas.
“She touched so many lives,” he said. “She was definitely a visionary, and we were one of the first recreation departments to have a website to promote our programs. Jill had a lot of energy and a great sense of humor, and she had a great run. I was fortunate to meet and work with her.”
‘An incredible role model’
Josh Mitchell called Jill “a legend” and said he will never forget her. “Working under Jill at Hingham Rec was a master class in leadership and living life to the fullest. She was an incredible role model who never accepted limitations, bringing her legendary energy, warmth, and laughter to everything she did,” he said. “She wasn’t just my boss — she was the heartbeat of our community and a loyal friend.”
Donations in Jill’s memory may be made to the Jill A. Drohan Scholarship Fund, c/o Hingham Recreation Department, 210 Central St., Hingham, MA 02043.