On September 2-09, Bill Hall passed away suddenly. Bill is survived by his two teenage sons, Lee and Tyler Hall who live in Victoria, BC. He always did his best for his sons and we will hold his memory forever close to our hearts.
So many great stories of times spent with Bill and so many good times shared! Thanks to all of you, Bill's friends, who have come here to join in saying Farewell to Bill. .. a loving father, husband and friend.
To help us all say farewell, this blog page has been set up to capture your words...it's a place for you to share your special 'Bill Stories' with others and help everyone pay tribute and celebrate the life of this wonderful man. Click on the 'comments' listed below to read other farewell messages and add your own message/comment - or you can email it to us and we will post it for you: farewellbill@gmail.com
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The first time I met Bill was in the Toronto airport, December 1988 heading for a vacation in the Bahamas with my friend Jane. I remember noticing that he had a tennis racquet in hand and wondering if he was going to the same resort. He turned around and flashed me with one of his brilliant smiles - I couldn't help but smile back. The next time I noticed that extraordinary smile was as I passed through the first class cabin boarding our plane and heading for my seat in coach. I was later to find out that he had sweet-talked the flight attendant into upgrading him and his friend Gord to first class. This was my introduction to the infamous charm of Bill Hall!
ReplyDeleteWe spent the next week getting to know each other with a circle of friends on Paradise Island and by the time we were on the plane heading home, my heart was all a flutter and I was falling hard. I knew he felt the same way when he gave up his seat in first class to ride in the back of the bus with me! We were inseparable after that and were married in 1990.
I could fill volumes of books with memories of many wonderful times and very special years together. Life doesn't always turn out as we expect or hope, but I will always feel blessed to have known this complex and sometimes fragile man and my heart will always hold him near and dear. Right now it's hard to see through the pain and sadness but I will ever be thankful for his gift of my sons and I know that he will live on through them. Rest easy now, My Love. Mary
Mary, Lee, and Tyler: I hope you know that you are being tightly held in the hearts of all right now, with loving support. No life is untouched by tragedy, but I am so deeply sorry that you are going through it right now, and wish you strength and peace. Moving out of grief there is often a growing joy and appreciation of life, and this I wish for you as well. You are all three amazing people and much loved by many. I send bear hugs to all of you, and of course one for Bandit, who is so good with her own hugs. Please call if I can do anything to help. Much love - Jan
ReplyDeleteSome of my fondest memories of Bill are hiking at Whistler, and enjoying the outdoors and fresh air in that beautiful part of the world; I recall Bill wanting to ford every stream and explore every rock face we came across; he had so much energy. But it was also great sitting back after a day exploring or playing tennis, and just having a good glass of wine and some great food...great company and conversation, good fun and wonderful friends. I know Bill had some rough roads along the way, but I remember him as carefree and fun-loving, energetic and interested in everything around him...I know he is up there looking down on us and wanting his boys to live life to the fullest and take every opportunity along the way. Our love goes out to his family and our dear friends Mary, Lee and Tyler.
ReplyDeleteIn deepest sympathy
xoxoxox
Sandy, Bruce, Alexis and Mariah
Well Bill, now that you're at the ultimate horsetrack keep smiling over us & your boys. I'm going to miss 'terrorizing ' you about your old Ford "pumpkin" & your BSA motorcycle which was contantly broke down.
ReplyDeleteYou always had good stories for me when you called & I'm going to miss your calls & your outlook on world affairs whether serious or humorous. As a business partner you always thought things out rationally before we made a decision & whether the outcome was good or bad we lived by it without regrets or blame.
You knew I was back from cuba & I wish you would have called me in these past few weeks. The messages i left for you remained unanswered & now I am bidding you farwell.
Look in on us Wednesday nite at Gord's, where we'll be recounting our memories about you. You won't be able to defend yourself, but , you will see how much you are missed & how you have touched each one of our lives.
I'll miss you buddy, watch over 'your boys'.
Mario
i met bill in 1960, we were both 10 years old, at the YMCA in sudbury, we both loved sports, swimming basketball, floor hockey, gymnastics. after a few years, we both were chosen to enter the leader corps, and help instruct and mentor the younger new members. bill lived over on kitchener st andi lived on patterson st, we would meet after school downtown and hang out then go to the Y and play ping pong, as you all know bill was very competetive and did not like losing. we worked at the saturday night Y dances, got to see all the older girls, listen to the music and wait until we were old enough to go to the dances. we were the coat check boys or the clean-up crew and received $2.50 each for our night's work.Bill played hockey in the playground league in sudbury, and developed many friends there as well. in 1964 we both went into grade nine at sudbury high school, and since we were already friends, we hung out a lot. as soon as bill was 16 he got his licence to drive and soon bought a motorcycle. shorly after he wanted a bigger one and convinced me to buy his present one. somehow my parent agreed. this is where mario comes in, he had a bilke and we met him at the cycle shop we soon all rode everywhere together. mario and i used to go to bill's house to pick him up, Mrs Hall would as hime do you have your licence, do you have your helmet, do you have your insurance slip, and so on, we loved to tease him about that.Bill worked after school at his dad's service station Hall's Esso , we would all meet there and wash our bikes, and gereally get underfoot of Bill senior. bill's last bike was a british bike a BSA 650 spitfire. (mario and i said that was short for Big Stupid Ass) he had lots of trouble with that bike. the five years we shared in high school were some of the best times of our lives. we finally graduated from high school, bill chose to attend Laurentian university in sudbury, i chose carleton in ottawa. bill's parents were moving to brampton at the time and my room at home was empty, so bill moved in to our house during the school year. at this time he was rebuilding a 39 ford coupe. at the dinner table he used to tell my father that his ford would blow the doors off my dad's chrylser when he raced him. my dad told bill his chrylser would suck the ford up it's exhaust pipe as he went by bill in the race. my brother says they argued about this nightly, the race never did happen. bill lived with my parents for several years during school and spent his summers with gord and brent at macfarlane lake. my mother is still alive, she still thinks of bill as an adopted son, she is very sad about his passing. i have more to share with lee and tyler about bill, and will post more info as i remember bill, from mike spec
ReplyDeleteReceive my heart-felt sympathy.
ReplyDeleteAngel Ortiz
King City Equipment Inc.
Dear Lee and Tyler,
ReplyDeleteI thought you might like to have this picture of your dad with his beloved orange Ford coupe « the Pumpkin » that Mario and Mike have been talking about. Bill built this car while still in High school. He had many hot rod magazines and he bought a Hauley high air intake manifold for the engine, a Hearst shifter for the transmission and everything to make the car go half a second faster. I remember going out on the highway with Bill. Bill stepped on the gas, the car took off and the hood that covered the engine flew over our heads and onto the highway behind us. What great memories. Bill was always working on that car. Bill was a special friend.
Gord Chambers
I represent all your friends in China, Zhang Hong, Chen Weixing, Sean Wang, Joy Zhu, May Liu, Alan Zhou and me, to say, you are our best friend, teacher and business partner ever and forever. We miss you so much and remember every minute we spent together. Everyone in my office remember there was a guy stepped into the office always holding newspaper or magazine. When I asked why took them every times, he smiled and said “hey you know, I know you will be late”. I’m still not able to accept the reality but I know you finally found your peace in paradise. God bless you……because of you, we will be strong.
ReplyDeleteLee, Tyler and Mary: I should say, Bill loves you so much. Every times when talking about Victoria, he was just excited like a kid. He showed me the photos of you, gave me calendar with pictures of Victoria, he told me the story of surfing…… he knows, in Vitoria, he has the home. He has a wish is to take all of you to China, witness his achievements, having so many friends here. We commit we will help to realize it.
Jerry Hong
Dear Bill’s families,
ReplyDeleteI was distressed to hear about my friend, Mr. William Hall, had passed away and I am writing at once to express my deep sorrow.
I had the privilege of knowing Mr. Hall for 6 years and always regarded him as a working partner and personal friend. I still remember the first time we met in US and he received us for a biz trip. In the whole trip, he was such a kind person to take care of us, give us professional advice, share his experience, etc. It’s our pleasure of doing business and be friend with him. His loss is one which it will be difficult to overcome.
Please accept my deepest sympathy and wish your families will get through this heartbroken period. Let’s restrain our grief and accept the change. Bill will live in our hearts forever.
Regards,
May Liu
Deputy Director of IBD
Shanghai Huizhong Automotive Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
To Bill's Family:
ReplyDeleteI first knew Bill at Sudbury High were he played hockey for the junior and senior teams. Lots of talent and a big heart that would never give up.
Next connected with Bill in Toronto where he taught me how to read a racing form (he would never sit with me at the track as I was bad karma for his selections). Many fond memories of Bill (his fedora)and that engaging smile.
I will raise a glass or two and celebrate the life and our condolences to Bill's family.
Keenan & Mary Wowk
Dear friends and family of Bill Hall:
ReplyDeleteIt will not be the same without our dear friend Billy....
His energy could fill a room (and often did); his laugh was infectious; and his smile was a beacon of light on an otherwise dull day.
The Billy that our family new and loved was a kind, bright, funny and loyal friend. I always joked with Billy and would say that "I married into our friendship" and his response was always a sarcastic..."lucky you!" I would also joke with him about how much he could talk on the phone. Before I met Bill, I thought that only my husband had the "gift of the gab" and then I met Billy. There were many calls that would cheer up our days and our nights. I was very lucky to have "married into our friendship."
It is true...Billy and my husband had been friends for many years before I came on the scene. To my knowledge they became friends through work and through their shared love of horse racing.
My husband's family bred both Thoroughbred and Standardbred horses, in King Ontario. Bill gravitated to the many stories that Bob could easily recount from his childhood. Bobby (as Billy fondly called him), was an ear for Bill and someone to lean on. I think that Bob would agree that Bill was the same for him.
I will remember Billy as the guy who was always trying to get the "ungetable get." His drive to succeed will be forever prevelent in my mind. Billy shared with us many of his hopes and dreams. However, there was one very important goal that he always wanted to achieve, since coming back to Toronto from Victoria and that was to buy a big boat for his boys; to move back to Victoria to spend time with his family.
Our conversations were never without the mention of his children. He would share stories about spending time with his kids and he would make a point to call us whenever he was with the boys in Victoria. Mary, Lee and Tyler, he would tell us that spending time with all you were his happiest moments; you were the light that shined in his heart. May he rest in peace.
Billy: when we think about your life, we won't dwell upon its close; we'll remember all the good times that you brought to all our lives. You will forever live on in our hearts.
With love,
The Buddy...Heather MacDonald-Krever
Bill was a great friend! After living with us for several years we became very close, lots of great memories that words just can’t explain!
ReplyDeleteI will always cherish the memories of Bill, he was known to us as “Crazy Horse” a nick name that my father had given to him shortly after he moved into our home.
I’m not sure where Dad came up with this name? But Bill didn’t seem to mind and it sort of stuck with him. We can tell our stories about Bill but most of us can’t really put into words, how much we cared about Bill and how sad we are not to have him with us anymore. To his boys, we just want to say, what a wonderful man your Dad was to everyone he knew.
Greg Spec
Sept 10
ReplyDeleteHi Mary, Lee & Tyler. Yesterday we had a celebration of Bill's life at Gord's house. I am enclosing 2 pictures. Due to the short notice a few people couldn't make it.
We had great stories to recount about Bill & also had a candlelite toast to a dear friend who had a great influence in all our lives & will be in our hearts & thoughts forever.
Bill has left us a legacy to remember him by, his boys. Lee & Tyler , be proud of your dad !
Keep smiling over us Bill !
Mario & Lynn, Gord & Nicole, Mike & Maureen, Bill & Pat, Don & Linda, Rod, Nevia, Marilyn & Mom Simonato
Dear Mary, Lee and Tyler,
ReplyDeleteA week after Bill's passing, on Wednesday 09/09/09, a bunch of friends got together at our place to give tribute to the memory of Bill. Enclosed are some pictures of this gathering. We watched the sun set from our deck, lit our candles and Mario Simonato spoke of Bill's special talents and qualities and he and his wife Lynn read messages they had received from friends. We all feel better now that we said our goodbyes and I hope you will all feel better as well soon.
Love Gord (Chambers)
In Memoriam
ReplyDeleteTyler and Lee, we are good friends of Maureen and Mike Spec and knew your Dad dating back to highschool. My husband, Bill has many fond memories of your Dad from the "good old days." He was always laughing and having a good time. I have fond memories of his smile and the way he used to co-ordinate his socks with his shirts and sweaters in highschool. If he was wearing a red sweater, he had matching red socks with penny loafers. He was very cool!
Unfortunately, whenever you were at the Spec's camp, we were unable to be there and never got to meet you. After you moved, whenever we did see your Dad he always spoke of you fondly and with much love. Remember, "All precious things live on in memory, forever." It was an honour to have known your Dad - keep his memory alive in your hearts.
Pat and Bill Nurmi
Mary, Lee and Tyler,
ReplyDeleteWe had the very real pleasure of meeting you all through Aurora Montessori School.
You invited us into your lives; we never found truer friends.
While we already miss your dad, he will always live on in our hearts.
Our deepest sympathy,
All our love,
Ellen, Brie and Ben Krever
Hi,
ReplyDeleteWe are close friends of Shari & Greg McMaster, and wanted to express our condolences to Bill’s family on his sudden passing.
We met Bill a few times, and he was always a very friendly man. We enjoyed hearing his stories about horse racing and the Hall family tradition of spontaneously driving great distances for breakfast.
May you all be blessed with peace, and an appreciation of Bill’s life, in the days, weeks and months ahead.
Bryan & Peggy Webber
September 19, 2009
ReplyDeleteWe have known Bill for over 30 yrs. from his years at the Supertest station, driving his standardbred horse, his years at Magna, his first time and his second time. We have had a a snapshot from his childhood days at Grand Valley from his babysitter J. Taylor a teacher in Brampton. Bill has always been a great guy and has always supported his friends. We will miss him dearly
~ ed & nancy Strohack, Brampton, Ontario |
September 7, 2009
ReplyDeleteMy sincere condolences to Bill's Family.
I've known Bill since I was about 5 years old. He was good friends with my brother Mario. I'll always remember Bill's bright smile, laughing eyes and the way he always paid attention to me even though I was just a kid. I last saw Bill at my nephew Ryan's wedding. I'm so happy to have had the opportunity to sit and chat and catch up with him. He will be truly missed.
Sincerely, Nevia Simonato
~ Nevia Simonato, Sudbury, Ontario
September 7, 2009
ReplyDeleteWe,Gord, Nicole, Shane, Jord and Niki would like to offer our sincere condolences to Bill's family. We wish to express our love for one of the nicest guys to pass through our lives. Always smiling, positive and engaging to all he met, Bill would enquire about the welfare of everyone.
Bill entered my life just after high school. For four years we lived together very simply (outhouse and all) on Lake MacFarlane and had four of the best years together. Bill worked selling cars to pay for his studies and get a commerce degree. He moved to Toronto when his dad fell sick. We always kept in touch whether he was in Shanghai, Dusseldorf or Victoria.
We will all miss Bill but have a happy place in our hearts for his memory.
Gord Chambers & family
~ Gord Chambers, Sudbury, Ontario
September 7, 2009
ReplyDeleteOn behalf of my wife and I, to Bill's family we are sorry for your loss. I have fond memories of Bill for as long as i can remember. Bill was a great man. He used to play games with us and when we would beat him he would say "play again" He didn't like to lose! I will never forget the time he tried to barefoot water-ski at the camp with his new white Nike shoes. He blamed the boat because he kept falling, we had a lot of laughs that day. My wife only met Bill once at Ryan's wedding, when we left she said "what a great guy", he was. I was glad to see him then after not seeing him for a few years, we shared a lot of laughs at the wedding and i feel a little better knowing i had a few more laughs with him before he left us. Bill was quite the character and he will be missed by many, we always looked forward to Bill's visits and are saddened there will not be any more. Tyler and Lee, your dad was a great guy. Our thoughts are with you. Rob and Bonnie Spec
September 7, 2009
ReplyDeleteI wanted to send my condolences to Bill's family. Lee and Tyler, I met you a long long time ago, when you were babies. I wanted to tell you that some of my favourite memories growing up were going to visit your dad. He was a great person, and was always so generous to our family. I am very sorry for your loss and I hope that knowing how many people cared for your dad and how many lives he touched will be of some comfort to you. I will miss him very much.
Alaina
~ Alaina Spec, Ottawa