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1953 - 2023

BORN

1953

DIED

2023

About

University of Utah

Jeff Hall Obituary

Jeff Hall

"Be Excellent to Each Other"

SLC, UT-On January 28, 2023, Jeffrey Norman "Fabian" Hall passed quietly at home after a brief battle with pancreatic cancer. Jeff was born in Salt Lake City, Utah on July 18, 1953, to Norman Virgil Hall and Frances Bertagnole. Jeff lived most of his life in Salt Lake and collected friends; running errands with Jeff usually took longer than planned because he often ran into someone he knew. He could have an informed conversation on almost any topic and had a quick, sardonic wit with an endearing smirk. Jeff will be missed by so many.

At 12 years old, Jeff started taking drum lessons, and he put himself through college by playing regular gigs with several local bands. After graduating from the University of Utah with a Communications degree, Jeff traveled through Iceland and Europe on a U.S.O. tour. He continued playing public and private gigs until he could no longer haul and set up his drum kit. Jeff had a deep appreciation for music by well-known and obscure musicians, and his passion for music led to a long and successful career as a location mixer and post-production sound designer.

Jeff started dating Sue Otto in 1994 and in 1998, they married on a summer day in the mountains. Jeff doted on his wife and two daughters, Lydia and Erin, and he kept them entertained with irreverent stories, a seemingly endless supply of trivia, and goofy dad jokes. Jeff was a terrific father and immensely proud of his daughters. Not only did he never miss a concert or play, but he also recorded them all and happily made copies for others.

Jeff spent as much time as he could in nature. He was a certified scuba diver and traveled to California, Mexico, and Belize to dive. He took many whitewater rafting trips in Utah, Idaho, and Arizona, and ran the rapids of Chile's Biobio before it was dammed. He loved exploring the desert, particularly Capitol Reef, Boulder Mountain, and Escalante. One of Jeff's great pleasures in life was sharing his passion for southern Utah with his wife and girls.

Jeff is survived by his wife of 24 years, Sue Otto Hall; daughters Lydia and Erin; father Norman; sister Christine Jordan and her children; and Jeff's extended family of the Ottos, including Sue's mom and siblings, their spouses, and their children. Jeff is preceded in death by his mother, Frances.

Shortly after Jeff's diagnosis, the Halls held a private living wake to celebrate Jeff's life with him. At Jeff's request, there will be no memorial service. For those wishing to pay respects, please consider sharing a Jeff story with someone you love.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by The Salt Lake Tribune from Feb. 1 to Feb. 5, 2023.

Memories and Condolences
for Jeff Hall

23 Entries

john castellano

January 26, 2025

I'll always have the great trips to the desert and the grueling bike rides we shared. Love jc

Kevin Sillito

December 18, 2024

I want to wish Jeff's family peace and good memories.

Shauna kersh

August 6, 2024

Sue this is Shauna Jarvis kersh (Norma and Jacks daughter) I had no idea that Jeff had passed until Julie my sister told me after running into the Hershers. I´m so sorry to hear this. He (you both) were so wonderful to our parents! They loved you both so much! Sincerely shauna kersh

john

January 26, 2024

Too soon. Some great desert trips, some great times!

Scott B Starley

June 11, 2023

I am so sorry for your loss, Jeff was in my life during my teenage years and as a young adult. He was friends with my brother & sister as well. He was always a fun, happy friend. May he rest in peace.

MARIANNE DOBSON OGAARD

March 2, 2023

Norm, Chris and family,
I am so sorry to hear of Jeff's passing. My memories go way back to the Loran Heights days. So many great times were shared by parents and kids alike. Jeff was into music early on. He gave me my first album for my 10th birthday. I remember it was Spirit and my favorite song was "Fresh Garbage". I remember when Jeff got his drum set! How he loved to play those drums and he was really great! Jeff and my mom shared the same birthday...July 18th:) I remember playing "flies up" in the Hall's backyard, playing army with guns we saved up for so Norm could by them at the toy store he worked at, riding bikes with a playing card attached to the spoke to make it sound like a motor, many games of HORSE and Poison, swimming at Fort Douglas Country Club, many dinners and outings with the kids and the parents....the memories go on and on. Though our paths didn't cross much in our adult lives, our parents still remain wonderful friends and Norm...I think you are the last man standing! Whatever you are doing...keep it up! I love Jeff's mantra "Be excellent to all". That he was, even when he was young. I love the Hall family and all the wonderful memories we have share. I send my most positive and healing thoughts to you all during these most tender times.
Love,
Marianne Dobson Ogaard

Bill Nielsen

February 11, 2023

I met Jeff when I was in Jr. High School and he worked at Progressive Music on 3rd South in Salt Lake. I was a drummer looking to buy equipment and we immediately hit it off. But that was Jeff, he immediately hit it off with everyone. He was six years older than me, but some things transcend age. Music and humor are two of them. We remained good friends until he passed.
I moved from Utah to Atlanta in 1988, but we stayed in touch, and we would try to get together when I would come home to visit each year. My favorite memory with Jeff was going to see Alan Holdsworth at the Zephyr in Salt Lake. After the concert, we stayed after everyone had left and had a conversation at the upstairs bar with Alan Holdsworth and Chad Wackerman (one of both of our favorite drummers). It was a great night. When I worked as a field engineer for Data General in Salt Lake, KUTV was one of my accounts. I would always make a point of going up to the Telescene studio to say hi to Jeff. He always had a great (and funny) story or three.
After I moved to Atlanta, I would email Jeff something I had read about a drummer or a musician, and nine times out of ten, Jeff would either know them, had met them, or had done work with someone connected to them. He was the most well-connected and best-loved person I have ever had the honor of knowing. When I started doing video and audio editing, Jeff was a fantastic and generous mentor.
He always spoke so fondly of Sue and the kids. The video slide show Christmas cards of Jeff and his family said it all. The world is a much better place because of Jeff. I don´t think we will ever stop missing him.

john castellano

February 9, 2023

My deepest condolences to the Hall family.
I had the pleasure of adventuring into the great Escalante desert with Jeff on several trips as well as a grueling mountain bike ride into the Capitol Reef area. Good times were always had. Thanks for everything Jeff you were a Good man. jc

Ed Pratt

February 6, 2023

Jeff was the first drummer ever worked with. In the seventies I was a part of the local music scene doing folk music and jazz arrangements of good tunes in bars, restaurants and concerts and I wanted to play with an few appropriate guys. I liked the way Elton Johns drummer played on "Tiny Dancer", understated and so appropriate to the recording. Jeff was a sensitive and elegant percussionist. He played well and never got in the way of my delicate sound. He was also a scream to be with. We played dozens of gigs together and had a great time. He played on my 1976 album "Late September Afternoon". He was the right guy at the right time and I can't believe he's passed. I hadn't seen him in a while but still my heart aches for his absents. Jeff was a rare man and those of us who knew him will miss him very much... Especially me.

Kris

February 6, 2023

I will always remember fondly of hanging out with Jeff and his family at their home discussing news, music, movies. He will be
dearly missed!

Brian Patrick

February 5, 2023

Though I have not seen Jeff for a number of years, I am shocked to learn of his passing. I met Jeff when I produced shorts for Extra Newsmagazine at KUTV in the fall of 1983. At the time, I was a 16mm film production instructor in the Film Studies Program at the U. and knew very little about video. I remember Jeff as always being available at Telecine to share his extensive technical expertise about video/audio production. Jeff had an exuberant, yet confident, fun style of relaying his knowledge and information to me.
When I went back to teaching film production full-time at the U. I could always rely on Jeff's accessibility to help me out with some particular film/video/audio issue. Jeff could always figure out solutions related to the intermixing of these mediums that was crucial in those days. In fact, along with Jeff, there were a number of great people at Telecine that would help me out with some particular technical issue--and even donate older, but useful equipment to our program.
Jeff and I also had hiking/backpacking in the Escalante in common and when I would drop by, we would always gravitate to relating our tales about exploring in that marvelous backcountry area--especially Death Hollow.
Besides myself, I sure that there are many, many people in the Salt Lake area who's lives were touched by Jeff's genuine desire to offer his witty, yet brilliant knowledge "on most any topic." Jeff......you will be missed.
Brian Patrick, Professor
Film and Media Arts Department
University of Utah

Jon Carter

February 5, 2023

Jeff was the most talented people I´ve ever come across. I would go record radio/TV commercials in his studio, and between his endless humor (and mine), a one hour-long recording session took 3. I would leave his studio in tears. Between recording takes, he talked about his life adventures, and his family. I know he loved them so very much. The light in the world was brighter with Jeff here. My deepest sympathies to his family and everyone who knew him.

Your sis

February 3, 2023

Siblings will take different paths and life may separate them...but they will forever be bonded by having begun their journey in the same boat. Sail on Jeff. You are forever in my heart.

Clint Stewart

February 3, 2023

I first met Jeff when he was dating Sue over 25 years ago. Jeff and Sue have so much to be proud of in Lydia and Erin. Being Jeff's friend has enriched my life. I will continue to think of Jeff whenever I hear music that he introduced me to - there was so much that this happens almost daily! Warmest regards to Sue and the Ottos.

Jeff Gadette

February 3, 2023

I met Jeff when I began 7th grade (Jeff was in 8th grade) at Cosgriff Memorial School - we became friends instantly and our friendship lasted until his passing. We played music together from our early experience in the Cosmic Boxcar (circa 1968) to recent gigs with various musicians in the Mocha Joe collective. His skillful drumming, accented by his exceptional jazz feel, was appreciated by all who were fortunate to work with him. His infectious sense of humor was always present; he had a unique way of bringing light to any situation.Because of his loving parenting, his two delightful and intelligent daughters will continue to remind us of his love and talent (both girls are exceptional musicians). I frequently reminded Jeff how lucky - and deserving - he was for finding such a perfect match when he met Sue. She was the love of his life and I very much enjoyed spending time with the two of them.

I will always be grateful for the wisdom he shared when I sought his advice, the laughter he sparked when I was feeling down and the love of music we shared. I was also fortunate to have shared a few conversations in person with Jeff shortly before his passing - I will forever hold in my heart the goodbyes we exchanged then.

Party on, Dude!

Ron Beck

February 3, 2023

Jeff was a great conversationalist with lots of experience and fun things to say. He was a peace maker and free thinker and spirit. He contributed to the great Skyline Stage Band and was very creative.
RIP
Ron Beck

Grace Jordan

February 2, 2023

The coolest Uncle with the most incredible, outrageous stories that had you in tears of laughter by the end. I will cherish our memories and family get- togethers forever.

A compilation of ingredients for what made Jeff an A+ mentor in my life is as follows:
His playfulness; queue obligatory growling/monster voices during younger years, his irreverent wit and humor (life´s too short to be so serious!), being the first family member to introduce me to camping and the great outdoors in Utah, his unconditional support and love during times of loss and immeasurable heartache, a top-notch musical influence, and overall, a person who has impacted and inspired me to be a present and engaged Aunt to my beautiful nephew(s), niece, and future additions to our family tree.

All my love to my Aunt Sue and my wonderful cousins, Lydia and Erin. May we continue to live a vibrant, joyful life just as Jeff did.

Cheers
Grace

Debra Harris

February 2, 2023

Jeff was the absolute best. My 25 years in advertising would not have been the same without his expertise, talent, humor, and good will. I will never forget being with him at TeleScene when the tornado hit SLC with LA talent on a phone line. We were all dumbfounded. The world has lost a true gem. There was no one like Jeff Hall. Rest in peace, my fabulous friend.

John Van Wagoner

February 2, 2023

Jeff and I worked together at KUTV. He was a good man and will be missed.

Shawn Emery

February 1, 2023

Always generous to share knowledge about his craft, a piece of advice to a problem or his specialty- a joke to lift your spirits. Will dearly miss him. Shawn Emery

Kevin M Sillito

February 1, 2023

I met Jeff when I was in Junior High. His dad Norm owned State Wallpaper and my dad worked for Auerbachs so we would take the bus downtown and visit our dads and generally get a few bucks to go away. Later on we attended Skyline.
I had lost contact with him over the years and the last time I remember seeing him was while we were attending the U of U.
He had a wicked sense of humor and was one of the funniest people I knew.
Over the years I tried half heartedly to reconnect.
I married and had a daughter and things change.
When Skyline had some reunions I would ask mutual friends about him.
I heard he worked at KUTV for a while.
Woulda,Coulda, Shoulda I wish I had visited with him again.
My heart goes out to his family .

Bill Lines

February 1, 2023

Jeff was one of a kind. He had incredible talent as a recording engineer and had to be one of the friendliest and funniest people I worked with in television. Before digital audio technology arrived, Jeff would edit audio tape with a razor blade, aluminum cutting template and scotch tape. Those were the tools of the time, but Jeff would do it, perfectly, while telling you a story about scuba diving in Belize or drumming!
Anyone who had the real pleasure of knowing him knew what a unique, warm, friendly and extremely talented person Jeff was.
Rest in Peace, old friend. It was my honor and pleasure to work with you.

Craig Clyde

February 1, 2023

Jeff was the best. He was the recording engineer at KUTV when I was the announcer and then later as I did promos for my films. His wit, his kindness, his caring of how you did (and that's important) was the hallmark of his life. I will miss him greatly. Craig Clyde

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