Lee Harris Hillier

Lee Hillier, 69, was born in 1955 and passed away peacefully at his home August 28, 2025. He was born to Manual Russel Sakkinen and Harriet Mabel Sakkinen in Butte, Montana. Soon after the family moved back to Minnesota where he grew up. Growing up in central Minnesota on a farm raising dairy cattle and registered hogs instilled the importance of our agricultural industry. When he was a teen, Lee and his siblings were adopted by William Hillier when he married their mother.  After a year of college at Mankato State, Lee joined the US Navy and served our country as a cryptologist. Being a veteran was one of his proud accomplishments and he loved America. When he returned to college, he met the love of his life, Leann Schlei. After college graduation, they married and resided in Minneapolis, MN. Attractive job opportunities and warm weather enticed their move to Miami, FL in April 1984 where Lee became a golf pro at Doral Golf course and then expanded into custom golf club fitting. Hurricane Andrew significantly damaged their home in 1992 so they relocated to Plantation, FL where Lee became a community activist. He was elected to City council in 1997 focusing his efforts on eastern Plantation including Gateway 7 revitalization. He was well known for his Blight Buster tours that included bus trips to other cities to see CRA improvements to spark creative ideas for Plantation. He became an ADA consultant to help improve access to public buildings, restaurants and hotels. Then he served as Plantation Acres Improvement District (PAID) Manager during some of the rainiest years on record, ensuring the canals maximized drainage to reduce neighborhood flooding. He was instrumental in securing grants for his college, PAID and Plantation. He continued his community activism including Broward County politics, public works, and veteran support. He was a big promoter of Honor flights to get veterans to Washington DC to share a day of honor at our nation’s memorials. His true joy was to provide pet therapy with his dog Emma to children and adults who needed comfort and companionship. Lee exceled at this work as he could talk to anyone about anything and was known to take the opposite side of an issue just to keep the discussion lively.

He is survived by his wife, Leann, siblings: Cynthia Crist Cole, Layne (Roxi) Hillier, Crystal Star, Loren Hillier and Marcia McKay; in-laws Evalon Brush, Elaine (Frank) Bosworth and Randall (Debra) Schlei; adoptive father William Hillier along with many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by both parents and brother Lance.

He will be missed by family, friends and the groups of people that he engaged with.

To continue supporting the healing and comfort Lee shared with others through his pet therapy work with his dog, Emma, donations may be made to Canine Assistance Therapy