ONEONTA - Alvin Hall, age 75, passed away peacefully in his sleep on Thursday, December 3, 2015 at home at the Plains at Parish Homestead after a lengthy illness with congestive heart and kidney failure. He was born in Atlanta, GA on October 3, 1940 to Icealius and Mary Frances Hall of Petersburg, VA. He married Mary Council Hall on June 12, 1965 in Roanoke, VA.

He leaves behind his devoted wife of 50 years, their two sons, James and William; James' wife Brenda Hall and their children Emma and Nathaniel; William's sons Finnegan and Cian and their mother Julie F. Hall. Also surviving are Alvin's brother Charles A. Hall and his wife Katherine B. Hall, his cousins Charles and Elaine Ruxton and their family and longtime friends Reed Battin and Arthur Bradbury.

Alvin Hall lived a full and remarkable life. He was born in Atlanta, GA and grew up in Petersburg, VA, Visalia, CA, Falls Church and Roanoke Virginia. He graduated from Randolph Macon College in Ashland, VA and earned a PhD in American history at The University of Virginia.

He had a long and productive career in Adult and Continuing Higher Education. Beginning his career at Stratford College in Danville, VA, he continued at Wytheville Community College in Wytheville, VA, Bluefield State College in Bluefield WV, Virginia State University in Petersburg, VA, The School for Lifelong Learning of the University of New Hampshire in Durham, NH and The State University of New York College at Oneonta.

While at SUNY Oneonta, Alvin was Dean of Continuing Education and Summer Sessions. His most long lasting achievement here was his part in establishing the Cooperstown Symposium on Baseball and American Culture, an annual scholarly conference in collaboration with The Baseball Hall of Fame and SUNY Oneonta. The Symposium celebrated its 28th year this past June.

After leaving Oneonta, Alvin served as Dean of Arts and Sciences at Troy State University in Dothan, AL, Dean of Graduate Arts and Sciences at The Union Institute in Cincinnati, OH and finally Director of Continuing Education and Summer Sessions at East Stroudsburg University in East Stroudsburg, PA where he retired in 2006.

Alvin had an irrepressible enthusiasm for life and learning and shared that enthusiasm and learning with others through his research, talks and writing. He was an active member of a church and choir in each community where he worked. In Oneonta he was a member of First United Methodist Church and sang in the Sanctuary choir. He was an active local historian in each of his communities and, as a resident of Unadilla, he created a monthly radio review of restaurants within a 30 minute drive which featured a food review, a history of the restaurant building and an interview with the chef. He was also a Charter Member of the Unadilla Historical Association.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial donation may be made to the following: First United Methodist Church, 66 Chestnut St., Oneonta, NY 13820 and The Unadilla Historical Association, 131 Main St., Unadilla, NY 13849

An informal memorial gathering will be held in Traditions Dining Room at The Plains at Parish Homestead, 163 Heritage Circle, Oneonta, NY from 3:00 to 4:00 PM on Wednesday, December 9th.

Arrangements are with the Lewis, Hurley & Pietrobono Funeral Home, 51 Dietz St., Oneonta.