James M Hall

Born in La Jolla to Mae M. MacDonald Hall and Edward Charles Hall, Jim grew up in the Banker’s Hill and Point Loma neighborhoods of San Diego. His grandfather, Michael Francis Hall, (locally known as “The Mayor of Bird Rock”) was a real estate developer who came to San Diego from Owego, New York, in the 1880s. Jim is predeceased by his siblings Kathleen “Kay” M. Hall Porter and Michael C. Hall.

Jim graduated from Point Loma High School in 1952 and earned a B.A. in international economics from UC Berkeley in 1955. At Berkeley he was Beta-Xi Grand Master of the Kappa Sigma fraternity. In 1956 he married Margaret Kennedy of Kensington, and shortly after moved abroad to serve as a U.S. Naval Lieutenant in Iwakuni, Japan. The couple had two children, Catherine and Jeffrey. Jim returned to UC Berkeley and completed his Juris Doctor in 1962, earning the prestigious Order of the Coif upon graduation.

Jim joined the law firm of Luce, Forward, Hamilton & Scripps in San Diego. He became active in state politics, serving first as the San Diego Chairman of George Murphy for Senate and later on the Reagan/Finch gubernatorial campaign. Governor Reagan subsequently appointed Jim to a series of state cabinet posts, culminating in his position as Secretary of Health and Human Resources, where he contributed significantly to statewide welfare reform. As Chair of the California Toll Bridge Authority in 1969, he presided over the dedication of San Diego’s Coronado Bridge.

Jim married Maxine L. Isaacson of Adrian, Michigan, in 1972. Their daughter, Amy, was born in San Marino, California. Jim and Maxine enjoyed 42 years of marriage until her passing in 2014.

In the 1970s, Jim served as Corporate Vice President of the Music Corporation of America, practiced at several Los Angeles law firms, and advised the Saudi Arabian government on the construction of Riyadh’s diplomatic quarter. Despite his many professional commitments, Jim also served on the transition teams of both President-Elect Ronald Reagan in 1980 and Governor-Elect George Deukmejian in 1982.

In 1987, Jim, Maxine, and Amy returned to San Diego, where he joined H.G. Fenton Material Co. as director. Jim became a prominent figure in local civic life, serving in numerous organizations, including the San Diego Transportation Management Association, the San Diego County Taxpayers Association, and San Diegans, Inc. He was active in San Diego Rotary, the San Diego History Center, the San Diego Yacht Club, and Friends of the UCSD Library, among many others. In 1997, Governor Pete Wilson appointed Jim to lead the California Fair Political Practices Commission.

Jim’s many passions encompassed Stoic philosophy, the music of Louis Armstrong, Japanese garden design, opera, red wine, and his beloved cats. A lifelong devotion to reading culminated in his opening La Playa Books in Point Loma at age 82. A steady presence in the many lives he touched, Jim will be remembered for his exceeding generosity, equanimity, and wisdom.

Jim is survived by his children Catherine E. Carpizo, Jeffrey B. Hall, and Amy C. Hesselink (Henk); nieces Anne Porter and Leslie Whalen (Michael); nephews Steve Porter (Tina), Ross Porter (Roy de Vries), James E. Hall, and Christopher Hall (Nan); their children; and extended family.

The family extends heartfelt thanks to Lili Grepo, Sarah-Margaret, Kari-Lorraine, Alina Tan and her family, and the nurses of Comfort and Peace Hospice for their compassionate care.