Samuel Stuart Hall

Sam Hall passed away peacefully in the family home on Saturday, April 29, 2023. His family was able to be with him for the last weeks of his life, almost around the clock, he was thankful for the love surrounding him.

He is preceded in death by his father, Walter Townsend Hall, Sr.; his mother, Sallie Mae Sterling Hall; his brother, Walther T. Hall, Jr. (Liz W Hall); his great niece, Lindsey Haase; his many beloved aunts and uncles; and some of his childhood playmates/cousins from Tennessee.

Sam is survived by his adored wife, Joan Kay Leffler Hall; his son, Jason Stuart Hall (Sinead); his daughter, Nicolle Sterling Buckley (Jeffrey); daughter, Robyn Michelle Boggs (Steven Boggs); niece, Sandy Haase (George); great-nephew, Miles Haase and a great-great niece, Sophie Haase; and his cousin, Holly Hall (June). He is also survived by 7 grandchildren, Grace Isabella Screeney (James), Frank Matthew Phelps, Ruby Jean-Kay And Stella Pearl Buckley, Cian Stuart and Tadhg Aiden Hall; and two great grandsons, Samuel Matthew and Oliver James Screeney; brothers- in-law, Allan L. Leffler, Louis C. Leffler; sister in law Phyllis M. Leffler; nephews Mark C. Leffler (Leigh), Matthew Leffler (Suzanne); great-nephews, Jacob Leffler Noah Leffler; and great-niece, Margaret Leffler.

Sam was born in Roanoke VA where he spent his youth going to school and playing sandlot football. He went to Jefferson high school and joined a service fraternity where his fraternity brothers convinced him to join the United States Marine Corps. Sam went on to Paris Island and took his first assignment in Okinawa Japan. This period of his life ended up being a very special time of personal growth and an important way to serve his country. When he finished his time with the Marine Corps he left Okinawa and came home to Roanoke; and with his GI bill applied and attended Emory and Henry College. During his time there, a friend set him up on a blind date and he met the love of his life, Joan Leffler. During Sam’s senior year they were married and had their first baby, Robyn.

The little family of three moved to Richmond when Sam was hired by Schering Plough Corporation, as a pharmaceutical representative he developed a good rapport and reputation with doctors in the Richmond and Charlottesville areas. Sam loved chemistry and all the details of how medications worked at the molecular and cellular level, and found he was able to share this complex knowledge with his physician clients in a meaningful and useful way. After 32 years he finally retired. He loved learning and sharing information, but the computers that were becoming a constant necessity in the modern world were never his favorite thing… his retirement allowed him a reprieve from those pesky electronic devices. Always the promoter of the phrase “Improvise, Adapt, and Overcome,” the computer eventually became his friend years later. It was in his character to persevere, to never give up.

The family later moved to Chesterfield county after being fortunate enough to survive 2 major hurricanes, Agnes and Camille. While in Midlothian, Sam and Joan were blessed with and welcomed a beautiful baby girl, Nicolle, and then, 18 months later, a baby boy, Jason.

In 1967 Sam joined the Richmond Rugby Football Club and he played with a passion and love for this game that was just getting a foothold in the Richmond area. He played in games and tournaments for a few decades. He enjoyed helping the game take hold and grow in the Richmond metro area, with several other players and fans of the sport. A band of brothers again came out of common interests and love of the game.

Throughout six decades of his life, Sam was deeply involved in helping to serve and grow the Richmond rugby community: he helped coach University of Richmond rugby collegiate players from 1978-86 and again from 2007-10, he served as co-head coach of Virginia collegiate rugby, and as president and captain of the Richmond Rugby club. He was also a member of the Virginia Referees society into his early 70’s. Joan and the kids spent a lot of weekends cheering Sam and his teammates on during games and tournaments. His wife Joan worked alongside him to make sure that he got to do a lot of these activities he loved so much and the term “rugby widow” does have a good bit of truth to it. The love of rugby was passed along to his son and youngest daughter, Jason and Nicky - both went on to play rugby themselves through college and beyond.

Sam truly loved mentoring young players both in college, those on the Richmond rugby teams, and then some younger middle and high schoolers in summer rugby clinics. This brought him a great deal of satisfaction, to give back and support these young people who were eager to learn and grow as both players, and as students and people.

Sam’s passion for rugby and the friends he made, the people and families that he and Joan became friends with through both work and rugby, have lasted throughout their adult lives. Throughout his life Sam was known to be a very loyal friend to those who knew and loved him.

Notably, Sam found joy throughout his life, spending time at a cabin in the mountains of George Washington National Forest. This was Sam’s happy place and there he and Joan were able to share with their children and later their grandchildren a deep love and respect for nature. Sam liked to fish, later learning to fly fish, always making sure to throw them back into their watery home. He loved to golf, always striving to be the best golfer he could be. Sam could also tell a good joke, and whether or not he used his humor to throw off his golfing buddies with a belly laugh, we’ll never know for sure. He enjoyed good conversations, good laughter shared among friends and family and a cold glass of beer or two.

Sam was not a big fan of cooking, but loved good food; the man knew how to savor his meal, he was fortunate his lovely wife is an excellent cook. With a passion for seeking truth and spiritual growth, Sam diligently and regularly read various literature, made time for reflection and spiritual contemplation, and enjoyed writing occasionally. One thing most people don’t know about Sam is that he had a really beautiful singing voice and a good ear for pitch- he sang in the choir at church when his wife and daughter pressured him enough.

His family will cherish memories of time spent in the Outer Banks or the mountains where he was truly his happiest. They are left with the influence of Sam’s love of learning and his lifelong pursuit of personal growth as he never stopped trying to deepen his faith and connection with God.

The family invites friends, family, colleagues, neighbors, VFW and Sam’s rugby brothers/sisters, his Marine Corps brothers/ sisters and fellow seekers of goodness to please join them on Saturday May 6th at 1:00 PM for a memorial service and celebration of Sam’s life at Winfree Memorial Baptist Church where he and Joan have been members since the early 90’s. His interment will be a private ceremony at the Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Amelia.

In lieu of flowers, in Sam's memory, please consider donating to either of the causes and organizations dear to him, Tunnel to Towers Foundation, for homeless veterans and other public servants who need housing assistance or the other cause and the Capital Area Rescue Effort- Richmond, C.A.R.E., for helping dogs find their forever homes. Please see their websites for the donation page.

We also wish to share our deepest appreciation for the entire team of Affinity Care of Virginia, who provided so much more, beyond the excellent hospice care to Sam and the family. They are a group of individuals who work together and they supported us all through every part of Sam’s final weeks. And a big thank you to dad’s doctors with the VCU Massey Cancer Center, Dr. Gregory Domson, Dr. Adams and Dr. Poklovishm NP Quigley, NP Olsen, their nurses and assistants who were part of the miracle that gave us an extra two plus years of time with him. We are deeply grateful to them all. Finally, Sam’s adult children, their spouses and grandchildren all wish to thank Sam’s devoted and compassionate wife; Joan Hall has always been the beautiful energy that carries the dreams and plans, the efforts, the details and the support that assisted Sam in striving to be the best person he believed he could be in the design of the beloved Creator. Mom, I think if it were possible to see with our eyes, we’d see God and Dad preparing an award for you- hand carved- Most Loving and Valued Partner.