Community mourns passing of Sandpoint matriarch

SANDPOINT — If Sandpoint feels a little different, a little emptier this morning, it’s because the community has lost one of its most beloved matriarchs.

After filling her long life with love, empathy and friendship, Hazel Hall peacefully passed away on Friday, surrounded by those closest to her.

Since arriving in Sandpoint in 1932 with her new husband, famed photographer Ross Hall, Hazel has been a pillar of the community and a champion of countless art and cultural projects. Over time, she become such great part of her adopted city that just last year, on her 95th birthday, Mayor Gretchen Hellar proclaimed it Hazel Hall day during a birthday party at City Hall.

Hellar, who has counted Hazel as a friend and confidant for years, said Sandpoint has lost one its truly admirable citizens.

“She kind of represented, to me, what the ideal Sandpoint resident is,” Hellar said. “I never heard her say a bad word about anybody. She was extremely kind and you always felt better after talking with her than you did before you ran into her.”

As a Sandpoint native, Councilwoman Helen Newton’s friendship with Hazel spanned more than a half century. Newton said Hazel’s contributions to the city are too numerous to name.

“Hazel meant everything to this community,” Newton said. “She was known and loved by everybody. She was a huge advocate for arts and cultural events in Sandpoint, and she was just a kind and generous person.”

Marsha Ogilvie began her friendship with Hazel in 1999, and said it was her kindness, spirit and zest for life that made her so unique. Fighting through tears, Ogilvie said Hazel will always be in her heart.

“Some of us have lost our mothers, so she became our mother,” Ogilvie said. “She mothered us and she was our friend. She was incredibly supportive and encouraging. She was kind of like our angel here on earth. She brought out the best in all of us.”

Sandpoint’s Sue Brooks, another longtime friend of Hazel’s, echoed Oglivie’s comments. She said there will never be another Hazel Hall.

“She’ll be greatly missed because she contributed so greatly to our community and she supported everything local,” Brooks said.

Dann Hall said his mother was surrounded by the people and things she loved during her final days.

“Mom was an embracing, wonderful mother and a remarkable human being,” he said. “Her life was lived in complete fullness thanks to her many, many cherished and loving friends, all of whom were a reflection of her own boundless gusto for life. Her ethereal wisdom and childlike enthusiasm generally  led me to harbor suspicions about  mom — she had no birth certificate — she came from Kansas and her given name was Dorothy.

“At age 96, her peaceful transition, as was her life, seemed to be perfectly orchestrated.  She passed away precisely at  noon, surrounded by her family; and on the background CD, Bing Crosby, who was a friend of her and her late husband, Ross, was singing ‘Now is the Hour.’”

Having Hazel Hall has a mother gave them “A Wonderful Life,” said her son, Ross Hall Jr.

“We know having her as a mother gave us ‘A Wonderful Life,’” he said. “The title of her story might be ‘A Life,  Beautifully Lived.’ And her countless friends might say, ‘She did life well,’” he said.

The Hall family is asking that, in lieu of flowers, donations in Hazel’s honor be made to Kinderhaven, The Children’s Healing Garden and Women Honoring Women of Wisdom. Kinderhaven donations can be sent to Phyllis Horvath at P.O. Box 2097, Sandpoint, ID 83984. Healing Garden donations can be sent to Linda Plaster at P.O. Box 1832, Sandpoint, ID 83864. And donations to Women Honoring Women of Wisdom can be sent to Deana Harris at 306 North First Ave., Sandpoint, ID 83864.