Hilton, E, L & Me
It is with great sadness that I address the group directly. Today one of our own, Dr. Hilton Kort, passed away. Hilton had been facing his second fight with a rare form of cancer and passed away in the early morning.
I began working with Hilton in January of 2010 at the behest of one of the original local triathlon coaches, Jay Marschall. Most weeks I spent two workouts a week, personally working with Hilton and/or his wife, Philippa. Hilton’s work ethic and discipline were inspiring. I often had to remind myself, when pushing him, that he was a actually a young 64-year old and not the 44 year-old body and eyes that I saw when coaching him. Hilton was a phenomenal athlete. But he was an even better human being.
My favorite time with him was during warm-up or after a workout when we would often share an espresso and some peanut butter on toast. We would talk about a spectrum of topics – triathlon, politics, family, life as a whole. Hilton’s passion for triathlon was a reflection of his passion for life. He lived deliberately and with purpose in his actions and his relationships. The love he had for Philippa and his two sons – Jonathan and Anton – was palpable. In fact, I saw Hilton as a father-figure myself. He chose his words carefully and thoughtfully. When he spoke, it was as if I hung on every word knowing that there would be a nugget of wisdom or knowledge in the dialogue. I am sure I gained far more from our time together than he did himself.
Some of our athletes know Hilton as one of the premier IVF specialists in the entire world. The lives he touched in his professional role are innumerable. How amazing, I used to reflect, that such a quality human being could help others realize their biggest dreams – a child or children. I marveled at what a blessing for those who worked with Hilton to have such a considerate, compassionate person as a physician.
I am blessed, WE, are blessed to have had Hilton for the time we did. I know he will always be with us in the current at our feet, the tailwind at our backs and the cool breeze in our face.
With Sadness, Love and Gratitude…Always, Hilton –
Matthew
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I was treated by Dr. Kort and while my treatment was unsuccessful I appreciated his expertise and the standard he set at his practice. I am very sorry that you lost a friend, and I hope that you may continue to connect with his spirit through your shared interest in triathlons.
Thank you for expressing these beautiful sentiments. Dr. Kort’s zeal for life was contagious and like many, we owe him a debt of sincere gratitude for helping to bring our son into the world. Given his name, I thought you would want to know– Matthew Hilton
I received the news today that Dr. Kort had passed away. It greatly saddens me. I am 32 weeks pregnant with a little girl that without Dr. Kort would have been impossible. We are eternally grateful to him and are very saddened that he will never meet our little girl. Dr. Kort was such a kind and compassionate man. He made a very difficult time bearable. My husband and I feel so blessed to have had the opportunity to have him as our physician.
I was a patient of Dr. Kort. His expertise allowed me to realize my dream of conceiving my own child this past December. The last time I saw him was at my 9-weeks pregnant appointment in January. I just heard the news of his passing yesterday. You are right in saying that his patients feel intense gratitude toward him. My husband and I are so sad that such a compassionate and intelligent person is no longer with us. We deeply regret that we didn’t get a chance to say thank you again for giving us the gift of a healthy pregnancy.
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