USAF veteran; worked for Honeywell Information Systems
Published in the March 4, 2016 edition
Bob was born in Newport, R.I. on Nov. 25, 1933 to the late Robert A. and Mary E. (Hudson) Hall. He was raised in Newport, R.I. and Stoneham. Mr. Hall attended first grade at St. Mary School in Newport, R.I., which was just out the front door from where he lived: Fair and Gridley streets. In 1940, his family moved to Linden Park Street, Roxbury, where he attended St. Francis de Sales School. In 1943, his family moved to Montvale Avenue, Stoneham, where he went to St. Patrick School.
After grammar school, his father bought his great-grandfather’s house, at Hall Road, Stoneham and he attended St. Patrick High School until completion of his sophomore year, when the school was condemned. He earned a scholarship from Malden Catholic High School from which he graduated in 1951. He then entered into the U.S. Air Force. While in the USAF, he married Anita Louise Amirault on Nov. 24, 1956 at St. Mary Catholic Church in Melrose. Anita and Bob had their reception at Chickland on Route 99, Saugus and divorced in 1978.
When discharged from the USAF, they moved to Melrose, where they had 10 children. He was a member of the Melrose Lodge of Elks and he went through the chairs to Exalted Ruler of the Melrose Lodge of Elks, and elected to a five-year position as trustee. Following this, he joined and went through the chairs of the Melrose Knights of Columbus. He was elected Grand Knight but was unable to perform his duties due to injuries from a car accident. Bob was an active Counselor for the Columbian Squires, the teenage boys group of the K of C.
He was very active with Boy Scouting. He was a Scoutmaster of Troop 50 in Cambridge Council, Cambridge while an Assistant District Commissioner and assistant Scoutmaster with Minuteman Council in Stoneham. Mr. Hall was also a Webelos Den Leader and was a Merit Badge Counselor for several scouting Merit Badges. He took adult training, including Wood Badge and went on to be an Adult Wood Badge Trainer himself. Bob was an active trainer of adults in Minuteman Council, Stoneham and he went through the Order of the Arrow ceremonies for honor camper with both the Cambridge (Kahagon Lodge No. 131) and Minuteman (Taskiagi Lodge No. 261) Councils. Mr. Hall graduated from both the Lincoln College (1968) and University College (1972) of Northeastern University’s night school programs.
He was employed at Honeywell Information Systems for over 30 years before being laid off. During that time, his family enjoyed two Japanese guests from Nippon Electric Co., Tokyo, Japan, who were here learning the Honeywell Mainframe System. When he left manufacturing he was promoted to engineer for passive electronic components in engineering, supporting purchasing, quality control and manufacturing. When Honeywell Information Systems was bought out by Bull HN, headquartered in France, Bob acquired international responsibility for worldwide restive products. After leaving Honeywell, he worked several security jobs.
In 1996, he moved to Jacksonville, Fla., earned a state security license and worked for River City Security. His past times were reading (from one of Jacksonville’s libraries), hanging out at the health club, collecting military data, especially aircraft; and visiting his children and grandchildren. In August 2003, Bob became involved with the Learn to Read program, where he tutored Latinas in English. In Florida, Mr. Hall was president of St. Anthony Parish Council and treasurer of the St. Nichols Group, where he met many wonderful and longtime friends.
Bob was the devoted father of Louise Quigley of Melrose; Kathleen Childress of Melrose; the late Dianna Hall; Doreen Stubbs of New Hampshire; Robert Hall of Melrose; Robin Woolaver of Tewksbury; Stephen Hall of Georgetown; Christine Hall of Saugus; Matthew Hall of Malden and Gary Hall of Saugus. He was the former husband of the late Anita L. (Amirault) Hall Simpson. He is also survived by his sister, Mary Long from Florida, and his 16 grandchildren: Jennifer Schlebusch; Caitlin and Meghan Quigley; Christopher, Corey and Craig Childress; Victoria and Elizabeth Stubbs; Erica and Elizabeth Hall; Derek and Ryan Woolaver; Matthew and Kyle Borick; and Jack and Vanessa Hall. He is also survived by five great-grandchildren: Grace Hallisey, Christopher, Lillian, Cassidy and Brooke Childress. He is also survived by many nieces, nephews and friends.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Mary Church, Herbert Street, Melrose, on Monday, March 7 at 9 a.m. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend. Interment will be private. Please omit flowers. Memorial contributions may be made in Robert’s name to the St. Nicholas Group, 328 Lazy Meadow Drive East, Jacksonville, FL 32225. For directions and to sign an online condolence book, visit www.gatelyfh.com. Arrangements by the Gately Funeral Home, Melrose.
