Obituary: Kenneth J. Hall, 90, Formerly Of Milldale (Southington)

Kenneth J. Hall, 90, formerly of Milldale (Southington), CT, passed away peacefully on April 27, 2023, after a lengthy illness, with his wife Mary by his side in Newport, NH.

One of seven children, Ken was born in Waterbury, CT on January 11, 1933, son of the late Julia and Arthur Hall. He was a born carpenter and attended trade school in Meriden, CT.

He always wanted to make and build things. After marrying Mary, he built their home in CT. He then started a club in his home called, "The Eleven Together Boys Club,"a group of boys who were heading in the wrong direction.

He gave them a place to be off the streets and out of trouble.

The boys started helping other people and Ken was their advisor. The boys delivered Christmas gifts to families in Southington.

They bought gifts by raising money with car washes and other fundraisers.

Ken bought them jackets labeled with their names and the club name. Ken was named "Man of the Year" by a local club in Connecticut.

After building a second house in CT, he decided to move to New Hampshire and built his third house in Unity, NH, a place where Ken could participate in his favorite sport, snowmobiling.

In the middle of this move, he and Mary started a business called the "Sign Doctor."

He designed and created wood signs at craft fairs and festivals all over New England. He was affectionately known at the shows as 'Doc.'

"Santa's Workshop,” a store on their property in Unity, was opened and operated for many years. Mary was the storekeeper and Ken made signs and wood products.

Ken joined the Claremont Kiwanis Club and was awarded the "Hixson Fellow."

Another one of Ken’s charitable projects was making wooden “wishing stars” to be painted by children with cancer at multiple Massachusetts support centers through “Our Space Rocks.”

Known for his sense of humor, Ken dressed in white clothes to attend a show in Pennsylvania, featuring Bob Hope.

The guards, mistaking him for a doctor, let him in the show, and sat him in the front row with the Governor of Pennsylvania.

Ken’s greatest honor was introducing President Obama when he was campaigning for President in Unity.

Recently, Ken’s greatest fun was playing slots at MGM and Foxwoods.

His smile, energetic spirit, and sense of humor will be missed.

He is survived by his wife Mary, and three sisters, Barbara Zygmunt, Dorothy Daniels, and Ruthan Watts, in addition to several nieces and nephews, and many very close friends.

Ken was predeceased by his son, Thomas, and his daughter, Linda, and siblings: Mary, Robert and Patricia.

A memorial Mass will be held on June 10, 2023 at 11 a.m. at St. Patrick’s Church, 32 Beech St., Newport, N.H. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to the Newport Senior Center, 76 South Main St., Newport, NH 03773.

For Hall's online obituary, click on this link.