William Thomas Hall

William Thomas Hall SPRINGFIELD, VT — Tom Hall, never known as William Thomas Hall, paddled off into the sunset with the perfect J-stroke on June 3, 2022. Launching a wooden canoe from his dock on the Black River in Springfield, VT, he cut an imposing figure as he faded into the mist of the morning river. He was 79 years old, and quite the miserable old curmudgeon. He did not look back. Tom is survived by his four above average children, Andrew, Amalia, Abigail, and Natalie. He has two surviving grandsons, Harper and Trevor. He reveled in Harper’s music and Trevor’s many sports exploits. He is predeceased by his wife of 50 plus years, Susan Tubman Hall. Tom also leaves behind his longtime housemate and very good buddy, Randall Porter. Tom was born in Racine, WI on January 15, 1941 to Isobel Holm Jensen and William Clifford Hall. Tom was an only child, doted on by his mother and aunts, an experience which led to the development of a rich inner landscape rarely shared with others. He attended Washington Park High School, where he met Susan. They married in 1967. After joining VISTA, they moved to Springfield, Vermont, where they opened and taught at a school for students with disabilities, and began their Great Parenting Adventure together. Tom went on to run a gas station in Springfield, which served as a job placement opportunity for local kids in need of support and direction. Circa 1980 the business transformed into the Springfield Redemption Center, world famous for its catchy motto, “Let us get our hands on your cans.” Over the years, Tom nurtured his insatiable curiosity by attending various college programs both in the Midwest and New England, including Dominican, UW-Milwaukee, Carthage, Goddard, and Antioch New England. He was a Renaissance Man, a lifelong learner whose interests spanned a wide variety of themes. He was happiest messing about in boats, designing wild creations of all sorts, communing with nature, and drunkenly pontificating. He loved music, old boats and cars that didn’t run, political discourse, gardening, good beer and obscure liquor, dreaming, and scheming. He left a ventricle on Swan’s Island. His children have fond memories of building boats, go karts, and potato cannons with him, as well as early morning fishing expeditions at Muckross and boating adventures on local waterways. Tom was proud of and connected to his Danish heritage. His family reaped the rewards at most holidays in the form of Danish Layer Cakes and Kringles. Tom was an achingly private person, few knew him well. He had nine lives, which he cleverly lived concurrently. Tom will be remembered by those who knew him best for his booming baritone, bold laughter, stellar whistling skills, incredible intelligence, sharp wit, dark humor, and mercurial personality. Oh, and that bizarre pink knit hat with the little bell on top. There will be a hopefully raucous party, held in celebration of Susan and Tom at the Crown Point Country Club on Sunday, October 9, 2022 from 10:00 – 1:00. Please join us!