About Eric
Eric was born on September 13th, 1955 in Oshkosh, Wisconsin to Mel and Anne Hillenbrand. The fourth of six children, Eric was raised in a raucous childhood home full of laughter and love, surrounded by a tight-knit family. He adored his five siblings, Melanie, Roch, Karola, Monica, and Chris. He inherited a love for the arts from his mother, and his parents instilled in him the importance of community and service to others at a young age.
Eric attended Campion Jesuit High School where he founded a school radio station and, despite his relatively diminutive size, anchored the defense as middle linebacker for the school football team. As a young man he developed a creativity, entrepreneurialism, and tenacity that would serve him well in life.
Following his graduation from Campion, Eric enrolled at Villanova University, where he majored in finance. During his senior year, one of his professors nonchalantly claimed that the students in his class “would never amount to much in the world of finance.” This professor had committed the cardinal sin of telling Eric Hillenbrand that there was something he couldn’t accomplish, and Eric became determined to prove this guy wrong.
While studying at Villanova, Eric met a cute nursing student named Barbara Arendas. The two fell in love, were married in 1978, and went on to have five children together: Jeremy, Jason, Morgan, Jared and Christian. Eric cherished his children above all else. He coached all of their sports teams and never missed a game. Eric was known for his hard stop at 5pm, which enabled him to be home each evening at 5:30 for dinner with his family. His office was adorned with photos of his children, and he famously directed his team to "always patch his children through" regardless of what he was doing at work or who he was in a meeting with. His children never doubted for a moment that they were the most important thing in his life. While they were not married at the time of Eric's death, Barbara remained a critical support for Eric over the years, seeing him through some of life's most difficult moments. Along with his children, Barbara was one of the last people Eric asked for and saw before his death.
Eric began his career in finance on the fixed income trading desk at Morgan Stanley. He rose through the ranks and was eventually tapped to lead the commercial mortgage investment group at First Chicago. First Chicago merged with Bank One and later JP Morgan, and the CEO, Jamie Dimon, grew and expanded Eric’s role. In a legendary story that made the rounds in the industry, Eric was once called to an impromptu meeting with Dimon, but unfortunately had chosen not to wear a suit that day. Ever the fashionista, Eric went to Brookes Brothers to procure more appropriate attire for his meeting with the CEO. While crossing the street, Eric was smashed by a taxi. Mere mortals may have headed to the hospital, but Eric dusted himself off, bought the suit, took the meeting, and limped back to work. Days later, his team presented him with a spent grenade; a nod to his tenacity and valor in battle.
Eric would eventually prove his Villanova professor wrong. By the time Eric left JP Morgan, he oversaw billions of commercial and residential mortgages, running one of the most profitable groups at the bank.
In 2005, Eric left JP Morgan and founded his own firm, Hillenbrand Partners. Working alongside long time industry colleagues, Eric and his team navigated the Great Recession and wound down the firm in 2014, after which Eric served as a consultant across the finance industry.
Eric's unbridled optimism and belief in others was infectious, and his children were raised with an unwavering belief that they could accomplish anything they set their minds to. Eric endowed those around him with the encouragement, self-belief, understanding, optimism, and support they need to become the best versions of themselves.
Community service, justice, and access to quality education were causes close to Eric's heart. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that interest individuals honor Eric's life by donating to Nativity Jesuit Academy in Eric's name.
The Hillenbrand family wishes to express our deepest gratitude for the frontline healthcare providers who are working tirelessly to combat the fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic. We have witnessed how difficult the pandemic has been on your bodies, hearts, and minds. We see you, and we are standing with you. Thank you for everything you did to try and save Eric's life.
Eric's light will live on in those who loved him. He is survived by his children Jeremy (Sarah), Jason, Morgan (Andrew), Jared, and Christian (Emily) and their mother, Barbara. Loving grandfather to Scarlett, Juliet, Isabelle and Jack. Brother to Melanie, Roch (Carol), Karola (Peter), Monica (Leland), and Chris (Janet). Uncle to Justin and Molly Hillenbrand, Ian, Erik, Kiernan, Brittany, and Logan Jungbacker, Meghan Boyett and Lucas McGill, and Brian and Austin Hillenbrand. Eric is predeceased and will be embraced with loving arms by his mother and father, Anne and Mel Hillenbrand.
The family appreciates the outpouring of love and support they have received from the community during this difficult time. Take care of one another. We are all in this together.