Shirley M. Hall

Shirley May Miller Rohaly Hall passed away at age 91 on December 11, 2022, at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida, after a short illness. A native of Norwalk, Connecticut, Mrs. Hall was the daughter of Earl and Evelyn (O’Brien) Miller. She graduated from Norwalk High School, The College of New Rochelle, and received an MSW from Fordham University. Early in her career she worked as a psychiatric social worker for the American Red Cross.

Shirley was always busy; she served as a volunteer in the Wilton Connecticut public schools, on the Wilton town Planning and Zoning committee, and she was an active member of the League of Women Voters in Wilton; Wilmington, Delaware; and Jacksonville, Florida. She worked for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society in Wilmington and later at the national headquarters in New York City.

Her first marriage, to Frank Rohaly of Norwalk, Connecticut, ended in divorce.

She later married Harry Hall, and together they founded The Development Team, Inc. (TDTI), a not-for-profit national company focusing on employment of persons with adult-onset disabilities. Over seventeen years they created and tested small group programs throughout the nation, mostly supported by the Federal Rehabilitation Services Administration. They wrote and re-wrote eleven sets of participant and leadership manuals; organized career choice programs; and conducted a five-year study in ten large metropolitan areas for the Social Security Administration which resulted in major changes to Social Security law. They participated in the creation of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) which became law in 1990; their entire staff was invited to the White House signing ceremony. Shirley was vice president of TDTI.

Following their retirement Shirley and Harry spent five years exploring the Eastern Seaboard and the Bahamas on their boat The Good Life before resettling in Jacksonville, Florida.

Shirley was predeceased by her parents and her sisters Lois Allard, Dorothy Hines, Marjorie Kobbe, and Mary Anne Miller. She is survived by her husband Harry Hall of Jacksonville, Florida, her children Elizabeth Rohaly Smoot (Andrew) of Maryland, Timothy Rohaly (Ann Marie) of Washington, Susan Rohaly McClure of Virginia, Karen Hall Lydick (Michael) of Florida, Katrina Hall Hill (Chuck) of Florida, Monica Hall Travis (Steve) of Virginia, and Edward Hall (Sarah) of Pennsylvania, sixteen nieces and nephews, thirteen grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, donations in her name may be made to the charitable organization of the donor’s choice. A memorial service will be held in the New Year.