Stephen James Hall

Steve was born in Malden, MA, on February 3, 1946, to Constance and Robert Hall. He graduated from Malden High School in 1963 and attended Tufts University. There, he met Barbara Andrew at a student government meeting and the rest became history.

They were married for 59 years, 11 months, and 2 weeks when Steve died, tactfully avoiding a 60th anniversary party. They lived in Donzdorf, Germany; Malden, MA; and Colchester, VT, before settling in Keene and then Swanzey, NH.

Steve served in the US Army—in Saigon in 1967-68 during the Viet Nam Conflict, and in Baden Wurttemberg, Germany, in 1968-69. After his service, he continued his education in a master’s program in film studies at the University of Vermont and a master of education at Keene State College.

He was an English teacher and department chair at Keene High School for 25 years. His students voted him “most demanding,” but some also said he was “cool.” In addition, Steve taught business English and public speaking at the Franklin Pierce College Division of Continuing Education located in Keene, where he earned teaching excellence recognition. His name became a verb when those students learned to “Steve Hall” a sentence or essay or report for grammar, spelling, and context before handing it in.

Steve loved hiking, including an annual climb with friends up Mt. Monadnock every February for decades. He loved bicycling, racquetball, gardening, crosswords, playing bridge, Thomas Hardy, Scotch, and correcting people’s grammar. He and Barbara enjoyed trips to Canada, Bermuda, London, Zurich, Liechtenstein, and two cross-country car trips that impressed them forever with the diversity and grandeur of our United States.

A long-time member of the United Church of Christ in Keene, he served on the board of deacons and search committees, and chaired the Church Council. He was a trustee of the Mt. Caesar Union Library in Swanzey for nearly 20 years.

Steve is survived by his wife, Barbara; his son Christopher Hall (Heather) of Comox, British Columbia, Canada; his daughter, Elizabeth Hall Overson (Mike) of Lake Oswego, OR; and son Adam Hall of Portsmouth, NH. Also five remarkable grands—August Hall, Charlie and Tucker Overson, and Evelyn and Shiloh Hall. And also his brother, David Hall of Chesterfield, NH. He was predeceased by his infant son, Jason, in 1969.

The Hall family asks that donations in Steve’s memory go to: KHS Class of 1985 Food Pantry, Keene High School, 43 Arch St., Keene, NH 03431, a donation-funded program providing sustenance to food-insecure students and their families.

An opportunity to visit with Steve’s family will be held on Friday, November 6th, from 5:00 to 7:00 pm at Fletcher Funeral Home, 33 Marlboro Street, Keene, NH. A celebration of Steve’s life will be held the following day, Saturday, November 7th, at 2 pm at the United Church of Christ in Keene, 23 Central Square, Keene, NH.