William James Hall

Bill had a positive, easy-going spirit. He created a small-town atmosphere wherever he was, whether splitting lanes on his R1200R motorcycle in dense L.A. traffic after work or sitting in our garage people would yell out “Hi Bill”. He tested and lived with faith that we will always be taken care of by God. Since the young age of 10 he wanted to know what was the technique that the Catholic nuns used to know God. When he was 20, he was handed the Autobiography of a Yogi by his good friend Don that contained the insight and explanations he was looking for.

Spiritual development has been an important part of Bill’s life, especially during the period we have been together since 1995 when we met at tai chi class. Since we first got together, we had regular dates at the Sunday night meditation at Self Realization Fellowship Lake Shrine temple. We were initiated into Kriya yoga at the same time and continued to deepen our spiritual lives together as a couple and individually with daily meditation and attunement up until the end of his physical life.

Bill had many athletic passions and designed equipment for those passions throughout his life. He enjoyed hang gliding so much that he became a test pilot and helped design and make the gliders for UP. In Steamboat Springs he wanted to ride his bike on the mountain trails so he outfitted his bike with wider tires and a straight handle bar and in essence created a mountain bike before they were produced. In the winter he skied every day that he could, not just down the mountain but climbing up with telemark skis and skins. He created the type of boot he needed by retrofitting the store-bought boots. He practiced and became proficient at tai chi for 20 years while studying with a master Chinese teacher.

His enthusiasm for the sports was contagious. He inspired many people to take up bicycling, skiing and hang gliding. If he felt they could handle the sport he would help them access the right equipment. In the last 5 years, after he retired, we rode bicycles daily and many people told us they were inspired by him. From Bill’s perspective this was nothing extraordinary. Cycling in our beautiful wilderness canyon made him feel normalized and gave him respite from the Parkinsons. It was a necessary activity that he thoroughly enjoyed so he found a way to do it to the best of his ability and people recognized that fortitude and joy in him.

Bill lived life to the fullest and according to his terms, not according to any medical prognosis, especially in the past 6 months. He and I enjoyed riding pedal-assist E-mountain bikes daily until mid-November 2024 when he fractured his collar bone. Eager to get back on the bicycle for the natural endorphins and carbidopa production, we joined the YMCA on New Year’s Eve so he could ride a stationary bike and attend Parkinson's yoga classes. I recall him walking with a cane and a shoulder sling to the bike and then how he looked and felt so happy and free with this freedom of movement. Bill was able to be physically active, like he had been all his life, up until about 2 months before his passing. This was a tremendous feat that most people with his conditions would not even consider doing. Even 4 days before his passing he told a friend he would be back on the bike in a couple days!

Bill lived up to his name, “Will-I-Am”. He proved over and over he could accomplish things with his strong will power and fortitude and was still sweet William even when he was losing control towards the end.

He provided for his family as an excellent Operating Engineer, running heavy equipment. He is survived by his wife Teresa Hall, mother Jean Hall, and siblings JoAnn Hall, Tom Hall, Nancy MacDonald, and Patty Pizzat.

In lieu of flowers please send donations to Parkinson's Foundation or the Sierra Club, with the links below