Charles “Chuck” Hillinger, a journalist with the Los Angeles Times for over 46 years and a UCLA alumnus, died on April 28 after battling melanoma for 18 months. He was 82.
Hillinger lived a fascinating life. His accomplishments include flying around the world, watching Apollo 11 land when it returned to Earth, surviving five airplane crashes and searching for America’s best ribs with his friend Bob Hope.
Charles Hillinger’s work ethic included sitting at his desk every day and calling everyone and anyone he could think of. One day in 1964, he received a call from a friend of his ““ a security guard for a gated Bel-Air community. He had heard that the Beatles would be visiting Brad Epstein’s home there.
“Nobody knew where they were (going to be), but he just went up and knocked on the door and sat down with Brad Epstein,” said his son, Brad Hillinger.
Charles Hillinger scooped the rest of the media and spent time with the “mop-haired Liverpudlians” while they swam and played with toy pistols sent over from their friend Elvis Presley.
Hillinger began his career in newspapers at the age of 15 at the Park Ridge Gazette in Park Ridge, Ill. He went on to be a copy boy and feature writer for the Chicago Tribune.
“He’s been at it all his life … he had ink in his blood from the first day,” Brad Hillinger said.
Charles Hillinger was born on April 1, 1926. He grew up in the north suburbs of Chicago and graduated from Maine South High School. He came out to California with the Navy during World War II, and while he and his unit waited for their ship to be completed, he met a woman named Arliene.
“They were together until he died, for over 60 years,” Brad Hillinger said.
Charles Hillinger began working for the Los Angeles Times in 1946 and had his fist article published in 1949. After graduating from UCLA in the early 1950s with a degree in political science, Charles Hillinger continued his work as a city reporter there.
In his 46 years at the Times ““ until his retirement in 1992 ““ Charles Hillinger wrote nearly 6,000 stories.
His daughter, Tori Lindman, said many people have told her that their careers in journalism were inspired by her father.
“He always bragged about having the best job in the world,” Lindman said.
Before he died, Charles Hillinger rounded out his journalism career by writing his own obituary. In it, he reflected on how his life and his job were so fortunately intertwined: “Just imagine being able to travel anywhere in the world you wanted to go, fly first class, stay in the best hotels, eat in the best restaurants, go on cruises, and write about anything you wanted to write about and all expenses paid,” he wrote.
His travels for the Times took him around the world two times, once on an airplane filled with students. He visited every continent, all 50 states, every Mexican state and every Canadian province, and boasted bylines from the Galapagos Islands, Andorra and S’gogogsig. He went to Mt. Everest and was the first journalist to travel through Siberia.
When he was in the United States, Charles Hillinger set aside time to interview multiple presidents and celebrities.
His granddaughter, Brittani Lindman, said she will always remember her grandfather’s stories and his laugh.
“He had the neatest laugh, and he would chuckle as he told his stories because he was so thrilled to be telling (them),” Tori Lindman said.
Brad Hillinger said his father will be remembered as a true newspaper man.
“He was a reporter’s reporter,” Brad Hillinger said.
Charles Hillinger is survived by his wife, Arliene, his son and daughter, and four granddaughters.
A memorial celebration of Hillinger’s life will be held Tuesday at 11 a.m. at Rolling Hills Covenant Church, 2222 Palos Verde Drive North, Rolling Hills Estates.