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Ridgway Hall Obituary
Ridgway M. Hall JR.
September 10, 1941-October 20, 2023
Ridgway M. Hall, Jr. of Washington, DC was a pioneer in the field of environmental law. Since 1977 he handled a wide variety of environmental cases with a focus on Superfund and the Clean Water Act. He began his career as an associate and then partner with Cummings & Lockwood in Stamford, Connecticut and later served as Associate General Counsel for Water at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. He was a founding partner of the law firm Crowell & Moring in Washington, DC, where he started their environmental law practice in 1979. He was an officer of the Environmental Law Institute, a member of the American Law Institute, and The American College of Environmental Lawyers and repeatedly named one of the top lawyers in the field.
After retiring in 2011, he became Vice Chair of the Chesapeake Legal Alliance (CLA) and maintained a private part-time practice. Through CLA, he helped create a network of lawyers to handle cases on a pro bono basis relating to the protection and restoration of the Chesapeake Bay, its watershed and its natural resources.
Ridge graduated from Yale College, magna cum laude (1963) and Harvard Law School (1966). He grew up in Waterbury, Connecticut and spent summers on the water sailing in the Thimble Islands. He is a former World Champion in Blue Jay class sailboats and a finalist in the U.S. Olympic Trials sailing in the Finn Class in 1968.
He is survived by his wife, Anne (Jill) Harken Hall, their three children, Ridgway (Taddy), Alden and Anne, their wives and partners, Marcy, Karen and Kate and four beloved grandchildren, Khuan-yu, Josephine, Penelope and Hadley. He is remembered by them for the enthusiasm he brought to every activity, the delight that accompanied each new discovery, his openness to new ideas, the essays he wrote on the sacredness of natural places, his love of the water, a beautiful sunrise, and strong wind in his sails.
His adaptations of 1960's rock ballads-turned-tributes for holidays and parties, the elaborate pirate stories he tirelessly dreamed-up for his children and grandchildren and his moves on the dance floor are some of the moments most treasured by friends and family. His incandescent spirit blazes on in the many people and natural places he fought so hard to protect. He truly made this world and those he touched better for having known him.
A memorial celebration will be held at a future date. Instead of flowers, we welcome contributions to the Chesapeake Legal Alliance or a charity of your choice.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Ridgway Hall
Peter de Bretteville
April 14, 2024
Ridgeway was a positive force and paid back 10 fold of whatever he might have owed. He brought both delight and meaning to all who knew him.
Sue King
April 6, 2024
I met Ridge and Jill on a plane en route to a destination family wedding. I felt immediately comfortable with them and loved their joyous spirit. Jill and I ran a race together that weekend. Many years later Ridge looked me up to talk about agricultural pollution in the Chesapeake and to let me know about the Chesapeake Legal Alliance he was launching with others. His passion was contagious. He will be missed. His legacy lives on in so many working to protect our waters. My best to Jill and his family.
Richard Fortuna
March 10, 2024
MEMORIES OF RIDGE HALL
March 4, 2024
Ridge Hall and I collaborated on dozens of environmental projects, large and small,
legislative and regulatory for 40-years. Ridge was a legal trailblazer with outstanding
and unprecedented expertise in the protection of environmental interests. There are
thousands of people who unknowingly owe their better lot in life to him.
While my collaborations with Ridge spanned a 40-year period, perhaps the most
memorable one was our very first. In 1983, a new association was formed to represent
technology-based firms in the hazardous waste management business; the Hazardous
Waste Treatment Council (HWTC). It seems odd today to think an association would be
happy to have the words "hazardous waste" in its title, but in 1983, hazardous waste
treatment was "in" and land disposal was "out."
As the new Executive Director of this HWTC, my first order of business was to secure
legal counsel to insure proper representation of the new industry. I set about this task
by interviewing nearly a dozen representatives of Washington´s leading environmental
law firms. During the interview process, one of the questions asked of me was the size
of our legal budget. I proceeded to tell them that we budgeted $25,000 for legal work.
Upon hearing this figure, the faces of all the interviewees turned ashen and all interest
in representing the HWTC quickly dissipated - all except for one, Ridge Hall. Now to be
fair, budgeting $25,000 for legal work in Washington, D.C. is somewhat comical.
Nonetheless, Ridge, upon hearing the $25,000 figure, adjusted his tie, crossed his legs,
cleared his throat and said "I think we can get a good bit of legal work done for
$25,000.
" Thus, began a long and successful collaboration at both the association and
company level.
What makes Ridge´s accomplishments in environmental protection all the more
impressive is the fact that he was able to make these environmental advances while
serving in a major D.C. law firm; establishments that are typically sustained by
deregulatory interests, rather than environmental protection. Crowell and Moring is to
be commended for allowing Ridge to function in this capacity for so many years despite
the potential tension with other clients.
While I focused on Ridge´s lifelong and legion of contributions to environmental
protection, Ridge was so many things, all of which spoke to his gusto for life. Ridge was
always eager to cycle on the C & O Canal, to cross country ski Rock Creek Park when
the first snowflakes fell, to attend Reggae concerts, of all things, and to usually take first
prize at our wine tasting parties along with Jill. However, lest you believe Ridge is
suitable for sainthood, you should know that he was a terrible golfer and gives new
meaning to the phrase "may we play through?" But, if anyone deserved a mulligan at
life, it would be Ridge.
Rich and Susan Fortuna
Richard Fortuna
March 10, 2024
MEMORIES OF RIDGE HALL
March 4, 2024
Ridge Hall and I collaborated on dozens of environmental projects, large and small,
legislative and regulatory for 40-years. Ridge was a legal trailblazer with outstanding
and unprecedented expertise in the protection of environmental interests. There are
thousands of people who unknowingly owe their better lot in life to him.
While my collaborations with Ridge spanned a 40-year period, perhaps the most
memorable one was our very first. In 1983, a new association was formed to represent
technology-based firms in the hazardous waste management business; the Hazardous
Waste Treatment Council (HWTC). It seems odd today to think an association would be
happy to have the words "hazardous waste" in its title, but in 1983, hazardous waste
treatment was "in" and land disposal was "out."
As the new Executive Director of this HWTC, my first order of business was to secure
legal counsel to insure proper representation of the new industry. I set about this task
by interviewing nearly a dozen representatives of Washington´s leading environmental
law firms. During the interview process, one of the questions asked of me was the size
of our legal budget. I proceeded to tell them that we budgeted $25,000 for legal work.
Upon hearing this figure, the faces of all the interviewees turned ashen and all interest
in representing the HWTC quickly dissipated - all except for one, Ridge Hall. Now to be
fair, budgeting $25,000 for legal work in Washington, D.C. is somewhat comical.
Nonetheless, Ridge, upon hearing the $25,000 figure, adjusted his tie, crossed his legs,
cleared his throat and said "I think we can get a good bit of legal work done for
$25,000.
" Thus, began a long and successful collaboration at both the association and
company level.
What makes Ridge´s accomplishments in environmental protection all the more
impressive is the fact that he was able to make these environmental advances while
serving in a major D.C. law firm; establishments that are typically sustained by
deregulatory interests, rather than environmental protection. Crowell and Moring is to
be commended for allowing Ridge to function in this capacity for so many years despite
the potential tension with other clients.
While I focused on Ridge´s lifelong and legion of contributions to environmental
protection, Ridge was so many things, all of which spoke to his gusto for life. Ridge was
always eager to cycle on the C & O Canal, to cross country ski Rock Creek Park when
the first snowflakes fell, to attend Reggae concerts, of all things, and to usually take first
prize at our wine tasting parties along with Jill. However, lest you believe Ridge is
suitable for sainthood, you should know that he was a terrible golfer and gives new
meaning to the phrase "may we play through?" But, if anyone deserved a mulligan at
life, it would be Ridge.
Rich Fortuna
Gregory Beronja
December 15, 2023
I had the privilege of teaching many environmental auditing courses with Ridge and always had the greatest respect for him and enjoyed the time I spent with him. He was a special person. I just learned of his passing in going through my contacts list. My thoughts go out to his family during this holiday season.
Patricia & George
December 5, 2023
Memories of fun Charades at the Hall House in Stony Creek remind us of the zeal and zest with which Ridge and Jill enjoyed family life. Raking leaves or pick up soccer was an opportunity to enthusiastically live large. We miss you Ridge and love you for your spark and spirit directed to bettering the planet!
Bruce johnson
November 16, 2023
Jill I am so sorry to hear this, he was a wonderful guy and he will be missed
Jim Foster
November 8, 2023
Ridge loved clean water and was a fierce advocate for it. He worked tirelessly for the Anacostia and I will be eternally grateful for his counsel. Rest in Peace Sir.
Cheryl Wasserman
October 29, 2023
At ELI events I could always count on seeing and connecting with Ridgeway Hall. His friendship and common cause inspired. I just saw him over the past several months with his arms full of books -- his new exciting reads from the Cleveland Park Library. How could we lose such a positive presence? Too soon. Too soon. -- Cheryl Wasserman
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