Obituary of William Hall

In Renfrew Victoria Hospital, on Monday Dec 14th, 2009, in his 80th year following a brief illness with a rare, rapid progressive form of dementia. Born in Toronto, only child of James and Lillian Hall, Bill was the cherished husband of Anne (Mahoney) and father of Catherine (Michael Jong), Leo (Susan Arbuckle), and Robert (Ruth Reid). Pre-deceased by daughter Esther in 1979. Grandpa of Carolyn and Robert Jong, Jennifer, Abby, and Katie Hall, and Poppa of Reid and Kyle Hall. Bill graduated in Forestry from the University of Toronto in 1954. Following employment by the Ontario Department of Lands and Forests, he established Opeongo Forestry Service in Renfrew in 1964 and was its president until his death. He was a life member of the Canadian Institute of Forestry, the Ontario Professional Forestry Association and an active proponent of local woodlot organizations in Renfrew and Lanark Counties. A passionate forester, he endeavoured always to promote responsible forest management on both private and crown lands so that all forestry resources would be well managed, sustainable, and economically viable. A man of vision, he recognized early that trees are a crop and forests can be managed as tree farms. He understood intuitively the need for sustainability long before it became a political priority. Over the course of his life, he patiently assembled and nurtured private forest holdings that live on in a tangible testament to these ideals. A natural innovator, he responded to the recent decline of the traditional forest industry by actively researching new uses for Ontario's forests. This included extensive travel to other countries to see and understand progress in emerging areas such as renewable energy from forest products. He especially enjoyed his association with the area forest owners and operators and the connection they represented to the colourful and historic Ottawa Valley. His sense of adventure and enjoyment of the outdoors were reflected in his many walking, skiing, and canoeing holidays in Canada, South America, Europe, Malaysia, China, Japan, and Greece. Two highlights of recent years were his walk on the Camino to Santiago de Compostela in Spain and reunions with his forestry classmates. A happy, friendly person with an enduring positive outlook, he enjoyed people and conversation. His sense of humour was with him long into his illness. Sadly we have lost a man of gentle strength and the curiosity of a schoolboy.