Leslie Robert Hiller

Leslie Robert Hiller (known affectionately to some as the Collinwood Kid), age 69 of East Cleveland, Ohio, passed away suddenly and unexpectedly on August 20th, 2025 at his home. Born, June 10th, 1956 in Berea, Ohio to Kirby Hiller and Elaine Domrose, Leslie attended Miami University of Ohio and later obtained a bachelor’s degree in Psychology + Criminology from Cleveland State University. Just out of his formal education,Leslie worked for many years at Sagamore Hills Children’s Psychiatric Hospital in Northfield, Ohio. After receiving additional instruction Leslie obtained a degree in nursing and served as an RN on a kidney dialysis unit at the Louis Stokes Veteran’s Administration Hospital in Cleveland, Ohio until his retirement.

While never pursuing any long term training in music, being born into a highly musical family and singing in choruses as a child, Leslie was a music aficionado, amassing a huge musical collection throughout his life including nearly all genres of pop(well maybe not disco!) and classical music. Leslie was an adventurer, having visited most of the US on either motorcycle, or viewing it out of the door of a boxcar. Leslie’s travels and adventures supplied him with innumerable fascinating events for his other fondest pastime, storytelling. Leslie was also committed to volunteer work, answering suicide prevention hotlines and working for many years at the Cleveland Free Clinic. Always a passionate advocate for the poor, less advantaged, marginalized, or homeless, later in life Leslie spent a large fraction of his free time acquiring excess perishable food and regularly delivering it to food banks around the Cleveland area. As a highly integrated member of his urban community, Leslie was active in local politics, participated in numerous demonstrations against social injustice and war, and regularly attended a local Christian church. Finally, starting at a very early age Leslie was enamored with trains and the lifestyle of those that rode the rails during and after the great depression. Les was devoted to the preservation of the stories of these self-described hobos, and was the key organizer of the annual Hobo Convention in Britt, Iowa for the last several years of his life.

Leslie leaves behind his older sister, Linda, and his two younger brothers Dudley and Gregory, and his nephews and niece, Eli, Nenita and Walter.

Memorial services will be held at the American Legion Post 91building located at 91 American Legion Pkwy., Berea, Ohio on Friday, September 12th, 2025 from 4-10 PM. In lieu of flowers please make any donations to one of Leslie’s favorite charities: Liberia America, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Willoughby Hills Evangelical Friends Church, or Hillside Health International Belize/Brookfield, Wisconsin.