The Passing of Formaer Mayor Francis E. Hall
By Township of Teaneck
Published on April 18, 2018 at 08:27 a.m.
The Township of Teaneck regretfully announces the passing of former Mayor Francis E. Hall on April 16, 2018. Mr. Hall served two terms as Mayor during his tenure and retired from politics in 1994 after having served almost 30 years on Council. Please keep the Hall family in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.
Obituary for Francis E. Hall Jr.
Francis E. Hall, 94, of Teaneck, formerly of Ridgefield Park, passed away on April 16, 2018. He was born in Englewood to the late Francis E. Hall and Adele (nee Colwell), and grew up in Ridgefield Park. After graduating from Ridgefield Park High School, Frank enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and served honorably in the Pacific Theater of World War II. He saw combat in Guadalcanal, Bougainville, Guam, and Iwo Jima, and received a Purple Heart.
After the war, Frank married Rita O’Hea of Teaneck, where they lived and raised a family. During that time, he obtained a college degree and became an engineer and technical writer. He won several awards for his writing and taught technical writing at CCNY for many years.
Frank was especially proud of his contributions to the Township of Teaneck. In the late 1950s, he joined with his wife’s Church organization, Catholic Family Action, to assist Cuban refugees. Shortly thereafter, in the early 1960s, his friendships with Dan Henderson, Archie and Theodora Lacey, and many others heightened Frank’s concern about racial equality, and those friendships were the genesis of his later efforts toward integration. He was involved in NECO and Friendship Day, and recently, he shared with his grandchildren that much of the division we face today could be alleviated if we had a few more Friendship Days. Frank became one of the architects of the plan to voluntarily integrate the Teaneck school system, and was the campaign manager for the “Good Guys,” a slate of candidates who ultimately prevailed and made history by making Teaneck the first community in the United States to voluntarily integrate its schools.
Frank then ran for Township Council, was elected, and served two terms as Mayor during his tenure He retired from politics in 1994 after having served for almost 30 years on the Council. He was passionate about Teaneck, and fought against over development and high-rise building. As Mayor, he worked tirelessly to rescue the troubled library-renovation project and the stalled Glenpointe development. He was proud to name Frank Burr Boulevard after his mentor.
In retirement, Frank became active in Veterans and Marine Corps organizations. He served as Commandant of his local detachment, and assisted with Toys for Tots and many other charitable endeavors. He also hosted a cable television show dedicated to interviewing local Veterans. Videos of his television show are preserved in the Library of Congress. He was deeply moved to have the Frank Hall Veterans Park in Teaneck named after him.
Frank is predeceased by his beloved wife, Alice (nee Escobar), and his brother, Donald. He is survived by his children, Russell Hall (Shirley), William Hall (Jane), Colleen Gluck (Steve) Eileen Hall-Tobey (Chris), Kathleen Wicklund (Don), and Maureen Farley (Clement); by his grandchildren, Erin, James, Charles, Kevin, Kieran, and Caitlin; and by his great grandchild, Sophia. Frank is also survived by Jeanne Ashley, Katie Zimmerman, and his brother, Stan Zahorenko (Debbie), and by a beloved niece, Robin Salzano, and nephew, Kenneth Hall.
Frank always maintained a positive outlook and had a tremendous sense of humor. Though he will not make it to the birthday party he had planned for this coming Saturday, he wisely threw himself a 95th Birthday Party two years ago when he turned 93 to hedge his bets. He died knowing that he had lived a long, productive life, that he made a difference in this world, and that he was beloved to his friends and family.
Family and friends are welcome to visit on Friday 2-4 & 6-9pm at Volk Leber Funeral Home, 789 Teaneck Road, Teaneck.
Funeral Service will be on Saturday 11am at the funeral home. Interment will be on Monday, April 23rd, 10:30am at the Brigadier General William C. Doyle Veterans Cemetery, Wrightstown.
Frank Hall, Former mayor and longtime Teaneck councilman, dies at 94
