Thomas H. Hall

Thomas H. Hall

NOTTINGHAM - Thomas H. Hall, 71, of Nottingham, passed away on November 14, 2013 at the Hyder House in Dover.

He was born in Rochester on September 30, 1942, the son of George and Alice (Dickie) Hall. He attended Winnecunnet High School and was a graduate of Bates College, Class of 1964 where he excelled on the debating team. He was an educator and taught Head Start in Kingston; Kingsley Hall, a prep school in North Egremont, Mass.; and history and English for 14 years at Whittier Regional Voc Tech in Haverhill, Mass. After leaving teaching in 1987, he owned and operated Cinematheque in Portsmouth, a video rental business specializing in foreign, classic and indie films. After Cinematheque closed, he was an antiques dealer and freelance feature writer for the Portsmouth Herald, where he wrote a weekly antiques column, and for other publications. After that he worked for Measured Progress in Dover until his eyesight failed and he became legally blind.

He never stopped teaching history, whether from the stage or at sessions. He was recognized by the N.H. State Council on the Arts as a Folk Community Scholar. He led the weekly Press Room traditional folk session for over 30 years, and the monthly sea music sing-around for 11 years. He had been an organizer of the Portsmouth Maritime Folk Festival since 2005 and a participant in the festival for 14 years. He had also been on the Board of the Indian Neck Folk Festival and had helped organize the two Great Bay Folklife Festivals in the early 1990s.

He is survived by Linn Schulz, his wife of over 31 years, and his cousin Alberta Felch of Hampton.



A celebration of life is scheduled for after the holidays. Phaneuf Funeral Homes and Crematorium is in charge of arrangements. For more information or to view an online Tribute, go to www.phaneuf.net.

Visit www.fosters.com/obits for an online guest book.