Thomas
W.
Hall
Biography
Thomas W. Hall died Friday January 6, 2023 at his home in Fayetteville surrounded by his loving family at the age of 82.
Tom (Coach) Hall was born on November 21st, 1940 in Syracuse, NY to parents Jane and Tom Hall. He spent his early childhood in Syracuse.
Tom graduated from Fayetteville-Manlius High School in 1958 where he was a three sport athlete, playing football, basketball, and baseball. It was growing up in Manlius, NY that he discovered two great passions of his life: being outdoors and the lifelong friendships he made in high school.
He attended Cortland State (‘63), earning BS and MS degrees in history. There he discovered the two great loves of his life: lacrosse, and his bride of 59 years, Sally.
Off he went with his arm around Sally, to always be at his side – with a lacrosse stick in the other. Theirs was a great partnership that remained strong and accomplished so much together, the greatest of which was the creation of their loving family. Sally would bring their young children to all the games just to be by his side. Family meant everything to them both.
Tom and Sally’s many friends were an unending source of fun and excitement throughout their lives, from his Syracuse Lacrosse Club, coaching relationships and associations, softball buddies, Wednesday golf and card league, Trinity Church, and so much more.
Tom loved hunting, reading, and playing cards, and he passed on his love of the outdoors and camping to his children and grandchildren. He loved to drive. The years were filled with road trips, from packing the family in the suburban to see the West to visiting Florida to see family and friends every winter to a Cape Cod vacation every August at the National Seashore.
Career & Legacy
Tom played lacrosse (midfield) at Cortland State and for 12 years with the Syracuse Lacrosse Club, from 1961-1972.
He returned to his alma mater to teach social studies – he was always a teacher first and foremost.
In 1964 he founded the storied lacrosse program at FM that has become a model for dozens of other schools throughout the northeast.
Tom gave incalculable hours to the sport of lacrosse, serving in countless volunteer roles such as Section III Lacrosse Chairman and the first Empire State Games Lacrosse Chairman. On his own time he founded, organized, and coordinated teams, tournaments, leagues, and camps, providing endless opportunities for young boys and men to learn and compete in the sport of lacrosse.
Tom retired after thirty-six years with over 450 wins, one of the winningest coaches in New York state. He coached football for twenty-nine of those years. Over 350 of his players have gone on to play lacrosse in college, including 25 all-Americans and 17 high school All-Americans.
Tom embodied sportsmanship in all aspects of the game. His tireless dedication to lacrosse and his generosity of spirit helped spread a love of the game and inspired many to pick up a lacrosse stick for the first time. He left an especially strong legacy among his family, as his children and grandchildren have played, coached, and enjoyed a passion for the game.
Family
Tom is survived by his wife, Sally, his four children, Christine (Scott) O’Neil, Stephanie (Jim O’Connor), Geoffrey, and Sarah, his four grandchildren, Alison (Chuck McKeever) O’Neil, Michael O’Neil, Hilary O’Neil, and Emma Carlson, and his sister-in-law, Margaret Hoffman.
The family has been so touched by the outpouring of love and respect and shared memories from players, students, and fellow coaches from all corners of the country. Gratitude to all his friends, and the many players who became enduring friends over the years.
The family thanks the fire department, the Fayetteville EMTs, and the 4th floor nurses at Crouse for their dedicated care of him in his final days.
In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Trinity Church or to Hospice of CNY.
History
1958 Graduate of Fayetteville-Manlius High School
1963 Graduate of SUNY Cortland - BS in History
1966 MS in History at SUNY Cortland
Played lacrosse at SUNY Cortland and 12 years with the Syracuse Lacrosse Club (1961-1972)
1999 retired from Fayetteville-Manlius High School after thirty-six years as a history teacher. Started the lacrosse program in 1964 and coached for 36 years with a career record of 454-185-1. Coached football for 29 years.
Teams have won 4 sectional titles, six league titles, two upstate championships and a New York State runner-up twice. (1988 and 1993)
Over 350 players have gone on to play lacrosse in college, including 28 college All- Americans and 17 High School All-Americans
Volunteer coach at Fayetteville-Manlius High School since 2000 - 2017
Service
Co-founder of the Upstate Summer Lacrosse League 1964
President of the Central New York Lacrosse Coaches association 1966 - 1973
Onondaga High School League Lacrosse Chairman 1973 - 1999
Area Chairman to the USLCA & US Lacrosse for Secondary Schools in Central New York 1971 - 2004
NYS Section III Lacrosse Chairman and serving 1975 - 2011
NYSPHSAA Lacrosse Coordinator 1986 - 2011
First Empire State Games Lacrosse Chairman 1983 - 1993
Initial Central Region Empire State Games Lacrosse Chairman and serving since 1983 Secondary Schools Awards Chairman to the USLCA & USLacrosse and serving 1978 - 2010
Elected as the first president of the National Interscholastic Lacrosse Association 1978 - 1988
Board member of the initial Upstate New York Chapter of US Lacrosse
Coordinator for the New York State All-stars against the Maryland All-stars 1995 - 2001
Co coordinator and founder of the initial Town of Manlius recreation youth lacrosse camps; fall, winter and summer 1992 - 2016
Served on the first National Federation of High Schools Lacrosse rules committee 1999 - 2002
Central New York Chapter of US Lacrosse Hall of Fame Banquet co-chairman 1998
North Team coordinator for the National High School Senior Showcase Games 2000 - 2010
Coaches coordinator for the US Lacrosse National Senior Showcase Games 2004 - 2010
Created and coordinated the 2009 New York Shootout as a replacement for the canceled Empire State Games Lacrosse
Created and coordinated the Upstate Risings Lacrosse – an elite lacrosse tournament for select 9th and 10th graders from Sections 3, 4, 5 & 6, 2010 - 2016
Coached the Central Region Lacrosse team in the 1985 Empire State Games; the 1986 North team in the National High School North-South Game
Awards and Accolades
United States Lacrosse Coaches (USLCA) "Coach of the Year" 1969, 1985, 1987, 1993 and 1996
Section III Man of the Year 1983, 1987, 1998, 2006 and 2011
1985 Central New York - "Outstanding Contribution to Lacrosse” award
1987 Onondaga High School League Coaches Award
1987 Secondary Schools National "Man of the Year" Award
1990 & 2000 National Federation of High Schools "Outstanding Coach" Award for New York State
1991 "Blind Men and Criers" High School Coach of the Year Award
1993 Inducted into the Uslacrosse's Upstate New York Chapter of Lacrosse Hall of Fame
1996 Herald American Central New York Coach of the Year
1997 "Gerald J, Carroll Exemplary Coaching Award" (National Coach of the Year)
1999 "Special Honor Award" New York State Coaches Association
2000 National Federation Interscholastic Coaches Association -- "Boys Lacrosse Coach of the Year"
2001 Section III of NYSPHSAA "Special Service Award"
2003 Inducted into the Greater Syracuse Sports Hall of Fame
2006 Inducted into the NYSPHSAA Hall of Fame
2006 Inducted into the SUNY Cortland Sports Hall of Fame
2009, the Blind Men & Criers of CNY, "Edward J. Kearney" Memorial Award "For Outstanding Accomplishment in the Field of Athletics"
2011 "Distinguished Service Award" from the New York State Athletic Administrators
2011 "Golden Whistle Award" from the Central New York Officials Assoc.
2011 National Interscholastic Lacrosse Coaches Association's National "Man of the Year" award
2016 Inducted into the Fayetteville-Manlius H.S. initial Athletic Hall of Fame
2017 the NYSPHSAA Class "D" State Champion plaque was named in honor and recognition of Tom Hall for his service to New York State high school lacrosse.
2019 Inducted into the initial National Interscholastic Lacrosse Coaches Assoc. Hall of Fame
Service Details
Calling hours will be from 4:00 to 7:00 pm on Friday, January 13, 2023 at Eaton-Tubbs Fayetteville Chapel, 7191 E. Genesee St., Fayetteville. The funeral will be held at 11:00 am on Saturday, January 14, 2023 at Trinity Episcopal Church, 106 Chapel St., Fayetteville.
The service will be streamed live at Trinity Zoom Channel