Obituary of Thomas W. Hall

Thomas W. “Thom” Hall, age 82 of Cheshire, passed away in the loving care of his family on Wednesday, November 22, 2017 at Masonicare Health Center in Wallingford. 

Born in Brockton, MA on March 23, 1935, Thom was raised in Raynham and Norton, MA.  He was predeceased by his parents, Wendell F and Doris V (Watson) Hall.

He was a graduate of Norton High School, East Coast Aero Tech, Boston University, Bridgewater State College and the University of Hartford.  Thom was a life-long learner and educator spending his entire professional career in the Meriden Public School system.  Thom taught at the elementary and middle school levels before becoming a school administrator spending the last 23 years of his professional life as the Principal of Thomas Hooker School.

In addition to his career he was a devoted Red Sox fan. After the Sox became World Champions in 2004 Thom proclaimed, “Now I can die happy!” 

Thom had numerous hobbies and interests: he was an avid collector of baseball cards, enjoyed stamp collecting, playing racquetball, gardening, camping and woodworking.  In his retirement Thom fulfilled a life-long dream to canoe the Connecticut River with his children and extended family.  Realizing this dream for himself, he has passed this passion onto succeeding generations.  

His wife Margaret (Moynihan) Hall of 52 years survives him as well as his children, Todd Hall of Cheshire and Florida and his partner Kathy Cote of Bristol, Beth Strapp and her husband Chris of Granby, and Mark Hall and his wife Kate of Cheshire.  He leaves his adoring grandchildren: Phoebe, Doris, Nuala and Mairead Hall; Caroline and Elisabeth Strapp; many nieces and nephews; and his sisters Marjorie Crowe of Norton, MA and Shirley Ruhl and her husband Mark of Carlisle, PA.

At the center of Thom’s life were his family and faith.  He doted upon and adored his children and grandchildren. Thom was always active in church and his community.  As a young man, he led YMCA Camp Adventures including trips to Alaska and Mexico. He served four years as the director of Camp Claire (Old Lyme, CT) and volunteered countless hours to church and Christian organizations, especially those supporting youth and lay ministry. He was an active member of the Meriden Kiwanis Club, serving as the division scholarship chairman for many towns in Central Connecticut. In addition, he served for many years on the Meriden Record Journal Scholarship Program selection committee.  Thom in fact never sat still; the list of boards and committees on which he served would exceed this page. He was a life-long Methodist but most recently joined the First Congregational Church of Cheshire so he could be a part of his grandchildren’s religious upbringing.

Calling hours are Sunday, November 26, 2017 2-4 p.m. at Alderson-Ford Funeral Home, 615 South Main Street, Cheshire, CT. A Memorial service will be held Monday, November 27, 2017 at 10:00 a.m. at First Congregational Church of Cheshire.  The Hall Family is extremely grateful for the compassionate care provided especially by Masonicare’s Wooster 3 East team in Thom’s last few weeks. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Thom’s memory to Masonicare Hospice, Masonic Charity Foundation of CT, PO Box 70, Wallingford, CT 06492 or the Alzheimer’s Association of Connecticut, South Central Chapter, 2911 Dixwell Ave., Hamden, CT  06518.