Hilary Anne (Kurtz) Elf

She was born Oct. 25, 1962, in Los Angeles, a daughter of Joseph Cornelius Kurtz IV and Deborah Ann Austin Kurtz.

Hilary Kurtz grew up on North Bonhill Road in the Brentwood section of Los Angeles, attended Brentwood Presbyterian Church for preschool; attended Kenter Canyon School for kindergarten; attended St. Martin of Tours School for grades 1 to 8, where she took part in cotillion; and spent summers of her youth at Beacon Bay in Newport Beach, Calif., which she described as being among the best times of her life. She was so excited about the family trip each August that she started packing in May. In addition, she at age 7 was a Brownie and at age 10 started her own business, selling greeting cards, wrapping paper, and stationery door-to-door. Diagnosed with dyslexia in second grade by her favorite teacher, she undertook special eye training through eighth grade. In 1980, she graduated from Marymount High School, where she was youth chairman of the school auction, sang in the choir, and took part in dancing, cotillion, and theater.

In 1980, she began her undergraduate program at Trinity College in Washington, D.C., and later transferred to American University in Washington, D.C. While in Washington, she enjoyed museums in, and the history of, the nation’s capital, was an avid photographer, and was an intern at the Republican National Committee. She attended 1981 and 1985 inaugural festivities for President Ronald Reagan, not knowing her future husband was also at the latter. Again unbeknownst to her, he was an hour ahead of her in line at the United States Capitol to pay respects to President Reagan when he lay in state in 2004.

After college, she went to real-estate school; worked at Kurtz Richards Wilson & Co., her father’s private investigation business; and with lifelong friend Molly Burke Harrigan started Just the Answer, a corporate-gift-consulting business. She later ran the business on her own, and was a caregiver to her mother for five years until her passing, her father for two years until his passing, and her brother for three years when he had a liver transplant.