Georgia Georgallas Hall

Born: July 31, 1936

Passed: December 4, 2016

Georgia Georgallas Hall, the daughter of Denis, a carpenter and bricklayer and Chrysanthemum, a homemaker, was born in New York, New York on July 31st 1936.

She grew up in Brooklyn, later attended James Madison High School, while singing in the Choir at Three Hierarchs Greek Orthodox Church.

Georgia married, had 3 wonderful children: Denise Donald and Douglas, and attended Brooklyn Community College to study dental hygiene. She then taught Dental Hygiene at the State University of New York, Farmingdale. Her family moved there, and in 1971, while on scholarship, received her BS from Columbia University.

Georgia then received a grant to attend the University of Michigan where she received her Master's in Public Health in 1972.

The next year found her on the Navajo reservation, as a Home Health director in Chinle, Arizona.

Always interested in aging, Georgia returned to the University of Michigan for her PhD in Gerontology.

Dr. Hall then began teaching at Arizona State University, in the late 1970’s, in the School of Social Work.

Georgia moved to Good Samaritan Hospital in the 1980’s as a vice-president directing Gerontology programs.

Dr. Hall then began work at the University of Arizona Medical School-Tucson and eventually the University of Arizona Medical school-Phoenix. She enjoyed the time she spent mentoring medical students the most.

Georgia was always passionate about cultural aspects of aging and her work with Native American tribes in Arizona.

She also worked on the Greek Historical project here at Holy Trinity.

Georgia’s work has been a kaleidoscope of culture. Anyone that has visited her home knows what I mean. This month, she was still planning to give lectures in the community and to medical students.

Dr. Hall was nominated in 2012 for a Healthcare Heroes award.

She was also recognized by the tribes in Arizona for her over 30 years of work with their elders.

As a child she studied at the Pratt Institute of Art in New York and also won a folk art award from the author, Pearl Buck in Pennsylvania.

Dr. Hall presented her work at numerous conferences throughout the country and internationally.

An incredibly talented, energetic and enthusiastic person she engaged with others easily.

Georgia also loved to cook, and those that have tasted her food will always have that memory.

She is survived by her son, Donald, a faculty member in Humanities, at GateWay Community College, in Phoenix.