First and foremost; I HATE HILLS! I try not to ride them. Thankfully I live in a place that has no hills, excluding that "long" climb of 25 feet up the levee.
Not that I don't know how to climb, I do.
Most of the OP are right, as Nike says, Just Do It. You will improve every time you do. Keep on grinding up, before you know it you will look back and think. (I couldn't get up that).
After you master that one, go find a bigger, steeper one. A hill that you can "just" make it to the top. Ride that hill ALOT! Before you know it, the same thing will happen. WOW thats easy!
Also, your fitness will improve, quickly, Therefore your climbing will improve.
I found it was easier to "spin with strength". If I just try to increase my tempo at the bottom, I burn out before I'm to the top. Going to your lowest gear to quickly has never worked for me.
All in all; Hills SUCK! They are no fun for big guys, and we don't ride them fast! They need not be doom and gloom either. Just keep riding. I promise you that if you do, you will get better.