Francis X. Hall, of Needham, passed away peacefully in his home on November 2, 2011 after a long illness. He was 81.
Mr. Hall was a retired structural engineer. His career with the international consulting firm, HNTB, spanned four decades until he retired as a Partner in 1990. During that time, he made life-long friends with many of his colleagues and clients. He was a graduate of the New Jersey Institute of Technology with a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering. After service with the 1st Combat Engineering Battalion of the Army’s 1st Division, he returned to school, obtaining a Master of Civil Engineering degree from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, majoring in structural design. He started with HNTB in their New York office where he participated in the design of numerous bridges, including the Second Delaware Memorial Bridge in Wilmington, DE, the Additional Cooper River Bridge in Charleston, SC and the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal Railroad Bridge. Later, at the firm’s Alexandria office, he designed and supervised two major bridges over the James River in Richmond, VA; the Manchester Bridge and the Powhite Parkway Crossing.
Mr. Hall came to Boston in 1970 and oversaw many of the firm’s projects in New England, including General Consultant services for the Massachusetts Turnpike, the Maine Turnpike and the Massachusetts Port Authority. Among the major projects in the area under his responsibility include the Eastern and Central New Hampshire Turnpike Reconstruction, Section 3 of the Southwest Corridor Project, Providence Convention Center, T.F. Green Airport, Needham Rail Rehabilitation and the Rouses Point Bridge over Lake Champlain.
During his career, Mr. Hall was active in many professional societies; American Society of Civil Engineers, the American Concrete Institute, the Transportation Research Board, the International Bridge Tunnel and Turnpike Association and the Society of American Military Engineers. Of this last organization he was a Fellow and Life Member; served as a Regional Vice President and in 2000 received the Volpe Award for “Outstanding and Dedicated Support to The Boston Post”. He was a member of The Moles.
After his retirement, Mr. Hall owned and operated a boat manufacturing business in Maine. He also dedicated his efforts to his Alma Mater at NJIT, serving as Chair of the Advisory Board to the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. He was an avid boater who cherished his many good memories of sailing with friends and family. In later years, he enjoyed many hours with his grandchildren, from concerts and recitals to little league and basketball games.
Mr. Hall is survived by his wife of 53 years, Leona (Masterson); his children Matthew and his spouse Therese Jones of Washington, DC, Mary Hall and her husband Chris Swan of Needham, MA and Jane Andrews and her husband Scott of Norfolk, MA; five grandchildren, Caitlin, Sarah, Daniel, Mark and Kyle; two brothers, Roger of Virginia Beach, VA and William of Miami, Florida; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by brothers Andrew and Raymond.
Funeral from the George F. Doherty & Sons Funeral Home, 1305 Highland Ave. Needham, Saturday at 9AM. Funeral Mass in St. Bartholomew Church, Needham at 10 AM. Relatives and Friends kindly invited. Visiting hours Friday 4-8 PM. Interment St. Mary Cemetery, Needham.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Dana Farber Cancer Institute at Faulkner Hospital, attn: Dr. Geoffrey Sherwood, 1153 Center Street, Boston, MA, or to your favorite charity.