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Influential voice touched lives and hearts of many

Friends leave their sentiments for the late Tom Hall during a Saturday afternoon event at the Press Room.Ralph Morang photo

PORTSMOUTH Tom Hall's friend Bruce MacIntyre quoted Hall saying, "If you want to be in the community, be the center of it." Tom Hall had certainly achieved that status; it was said many times in many ways Saturday afternoon at a gathering to remember him.

Tom Hall died last November at age 71, a fixture at the Press Room where he sang, played and talked during Friday night traditional music sessions and monthly Saturday sea shanty singarounds with fellow musicians for 30 years. That music community celebrated Hall's life in word and music at the Press Room on Saturday.

With Hall's widow, Linn Schulz, sitting at the front, Emery Hutchins introduced speakers and musicians who had played with Hall, had been mentored by Hall, had been friends with Hall some even acknowledging that their singing had been critiqued by Hall.

Some called themselves "Tom Groupies." They definitely skewed toward retirement age, dressed in jeans and khakis, with a generous display of plaids and wool and cloth hats.

The first to speak was Raelene Shippee-Rice, who said, "When I think of someone like Tom leaving us, the universe should halt. The universe should resonate with song and music in acknowledgement of Tom Hall."

Many in the audience sang with those on stage, joining in with Paul Schurr's rendition of The Watersons' "Chickens in the Garden," and with Bob Eaton on "Steady Boys Walk On."

"This will be our last trip home, so steady boys, walk on," Eaton sang.

Lauren Orlen of Concord brought her 1984 Whittier Regional Vocational Technical High School yearbook, which was dedicated to Tom Hall. He taught social studies. Lauren said, "As many said on Facebook, he was always available."

Original post:
A Press Room salute to the memorable Tom Hall