Robert Hugh John Hall went to be with the Lord on March 23rd, 2015 at the Treasure Coast Hospice in Stuart, Florida. He was 86 and was the son of Charles and Myrtie Hall, and brother to Sylvia Cole-Tierney, C.R. Hall Jr., Joan Graham, and Teddy Albury.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 67 years, Jean, his daughter, Erin Paniagua, and his granddaughter, Madison Hannah Hall. He is survived by his son, Jock Hall of Freeport, Bahamas, daughter Lynda Hall of Stuart, Florida, son Rick Hall of Stuart, Florida daughter Sheila Scott of Wellington, Florida, twelve grandchildren and four great- grandchildren.

Robert was born in Nassau, Bahamas on November 28th, 1928. He was raised and lived in Nassau until 1984, when a career opportunity took him and his wife, Jean, to Freeport, Grand Bahama until 2010. In October 2010 they moved to Stuart, Florida to enjoy retirement with their family.

Robert had an unmatched thirst for knowledge and education. He graduated Queen's College Secondary School in Nassau. He was trained as an Air Traffic Controller at both the Royal Air Force in England and the Federal Aviation Administration Center in Oklahoma. In 1970, Robert attended University of Manchester, and the Loughborough University, England where he received a diploma in Public Administration and a concentration in cooperative societies. He was alumnus and instructor of the Dale Carnegie Leadership Courses, a graduate of the Kuru Kuru Co-operative College in Guyana, and studied at the International Labour Organization (ILO) in Denmark.

Robert applied this education with fervor over a long and illustrious career in public service and entrepreneurial endeavors. Upon graduating from Queen's College he began his career with the Department of Civil Aviation as an air traffic controller. From 1961 to 1968 he served as the Chief Air Traffic controller for the Bahamas, and in that role he was responsible for designing aviation traffic routes over the greater Caribbean archipelago, many of which remain today. Robert then left Civil Aviation to join the Department of Education as a Personnel Officer with the responsibility of verifying and posting teachers to the 200 schools of the Bahamas. Two years later in 1970 he was promoted to the role of Assistant Secretary of the Ministry of Finance with responsibility over certain customs matters. Upon returning from training in England was tasked with setting up a new Department of Trade Commerce, and then a Department of Cooperatives within the Ministry of Agriculture. He served here until transitioning to pensioner at age 48 with 31 years in service to the government of the Bahamas. For his work in Cooperatives, he was awarded the Cooperative Pioneer Award in 2010 for his contribution and assistance in the establishment of the Cooperative Movement in the Bahamas. Robert then began his next career in Insurance which would span three companies as an underwriter, opening multiple new branch offices, and recognition as the top sales leader in the Bahamas. In 1994, at age 66, he retired again, subsequently launching his final professional endeavor in Real Estate. Robert was a licensed Broker and Director with the Bahamas Real Estate Association, and began Robert Hall and Associates in 1994 which he managed until finally retiring in 2012.

Beyond his family and professional career Robert was deeply passionate about serving his community, doing so in many ways through the giving of his time, energy and gifts.
Robert had a long and distinguished Masonic career with highlights including appointment to the Grand Rank of Past Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies and later promotion to Past Junior Grand Deacon. At the District level, he served as Assistant District Grand Master and also as Worshipful Master of Royal Victoria Lodge and the Ernest Sidney Larkin Lodge of Research and Instruction. He was a Past master of Royal Victoria Lodge 443 Nassau and was active in many other orders of the Free Masons. Robert was a very active member of Rotary in Nassau and Lucaya, where he served in multiple leadership roles and was recognized as a Paul Harris Fellow. He was a founding member of the Bahamas Air Sea Rescue, a volunteer civilian organization responsible for monitoring and ensuring the safety of all maritime vessels in the Bahamas. He was a private pilot, founder of the Nassau Flying Club, flight instructor for 40 years, an ordained Elder in The Nassau and Grand Bahama Presbyterian Kirk, a Marriage Officer, and a Justice of the Peace for the Bahamas. Robert's other achievements include: membership of Bahamas National Trust Freeport Industrial Economic Development Association, the Life Underwriters Association, Canadian Men's Club, Hawksbill Yacht Club and the Free National Movement, Chairman of the Freeport Liquor and Shop Licensing Authority, and Licensee of the Grand Bahama Port Authority.

In recognition of his lifetime achievement in civil service to his government and community Robert was awarded and appointed as an Officer of the Order of the British Empire by the Queen of England.

Robert lived a full and adventurous life, which was centered on his wife Jean, whom he playfully named his "girlfriend" reflecting the youth in his heart, his family, his friends, and his community. He cherished time to explore, travel, and fish with his grandkids. He loved solving challenges of all shapes and sizes; he enjoyed ideas and the discussion of them; he gave freely of his opinion on matters large and small; he was a dreamer; and, above all, he was a generous spirit.

His legacy will live on, not just through his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren but through his many "Grandpa-isms" and through the people who were blessed enough to have known and loved him. He will be truly missed, but he will never be forgotten. Robert may have grown up a little Bahamian boy, but he died a strong and proud accomplished leader in his family, community, and country.

A Funeral Service will be held on Saturday March 28th at 5:30 p.m. at Community Baptist Church, 777 SE Salerno Road, Stuart, Florida. In lieu of flowers the family request contributions as a memorial be made to Treasure Coast Hospice, 1201 SE Indian Street, Stuart, Florida 34997, www.tchospice.org, or 772-403-4500.

An Online Guestbook is available by visiting www.treasurecoastseawinds.com