C. David Hilburn

C. David Hilburn of Brookline, passed away on September 25, 2026 at the age of 85.  He was born and raised in Iowa, the only child of Juanita (Palm) and Charles Hilburn. His father, a teacher of industrial arts, died when David was just seven years old. His mother, a college-educated kindergarten teacher, instilled in him a lifelong appreciation for education and modeled the importance of women’s independence, values she shared with generations of schoolchildren.

David graduated from Atlantic High School and went on to Iowa State University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree with honors in Industrial Engineering. He was a proud member of the Acacia fraternity. He continued his education at Harvard Law School, where he earned his LL.B.

Following law school, David served in the U.S. Army, stationed in South Korea during the Vietnam War. He subsequently worked for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the federal Office of Management and Budget throughout the 1960s and 1970s, and served on a variety of commissions and projects focused on effective administration of governmental services in the areas of vocational education, correctional rehabilitation, and poverty alleviation.

After his government service, David worked for Boston-area financial institutions, including Keystone Bank, State Street Bank, and Pegasystems. His parents’ influence continued to shape his work and his commitment to education. In the 1980s and 1990s, he served on the Board of Directors of the Brookline Foundation, where he was deeply committed to maintaining the excellence of the Brookline Public Schools.

David loved to travel and was an avid follower of the news and current events. He remained active in Brookline in retirement, helping to establish the Chestnut Hill North Local Historic District. Above all, he took tremendous pride in his family. His greatest joy was watching the growth and achievements of his four grandchildren.

David remained devoted to his mother, Juanita, caring for her in her final years. It seems fitting, then, that mother and son both lived exactly 85 years and 343 days.

David is survived by his wife, Kate; his daughters, Laura Hilburn and Joanna Kemp; his sons-in-law, Stephen Smith and Andrew Kemp; and his four grandchildren, Oliver, Gemma, Clara, and Adrian.

Funeral Services are private. In lieu of flowers, please make contributions in David’s memory to the Brookline Education Foundation https://secure.givelively.org/donate/brookline-education-foundation/bef-fall-2026-campaign