John Hall

John Clifford Hall, who died at age 93, considered himself a lover, not a fighter even though he was a marine who served in the South Pacific and China in the latter stages of World War II. His few stories bore him out. He recalled being on KP duty all day and, expecting the next day off, played poker all night falling into bed at dawn. An hour later he was roughly awakened to go to KP again?À?the ship had crossed the international date line. After the war he never ate lamb because of several awful experiences with old mutton. After conversations with a new neighbor he discovered the neighbor had been a meat supply officer for the marines. Despite this they became good friends. His was a home birth in Massillon, Ohio at his grandparents?À? house. His parents moved the family to Lakewood where his love of sports was nurtured at Lakewood High School. He said the best thing he learned early on the baseball field was to wear a mask if you were the catcher. He met his wife of 60 years, Peggy Bezzenberger, at what is now Case Western Reserve University. His working career began with the former Cleveland Graphite Bronze where he rose to head of purchasing and later regional sales manager for it and its successor companies. A highlight of his professional life was the revamping for the procurement department of the Gould Ocean Systems to comply with government regulations so they could bid on, and did win, the contract for the Mark class of torpedoes. He and his wife built three houses in Cleveland?À?s suburbs finally settling in Pepper Pike. While living in Beachwood, and with his two children in Beachwood schools, he ran for the school board and won his first term by 6 votes. During this two term service the board initiated a building boom to accommodate the ballooning population, eventually adding two elementary schools and a high school. He was always very proud of his contributions to the advancement of the school district. Golf was his passion although he always said his handicap did not show it. Any other sport was a close second to golf. He was a season ticket holder to the Browns during the 1950's and 1960's and followed them closely. He hoped his reservations about the new coach would not be realized. He enjoyed playing softball up to the early 50's. He played in an over-70 league until a knee replacement put him permanently on the bench. He was an inveterate card player, gin rummy and cribbage among his favorites. Gardening was also a favorite pastime and for many years he started seedlings in a home greenhouse. After retirement he and his wife travelled extensively, even getting to China 40 years after having been a soldier there. The only thing that was the same he said was he could still count to 10 in Mandarin and be understood. He was a truly gracious and graceful gentleman who quietly made friends wherever he went. He will be greatly missed by those who benefitted from his humor and good counsel, especially his family. He is survived by daughter Nancy Zambie Allan, deceased, son Jay C. Susan, grandchildren Ann E. Zambie, Brian C. Zambie, Jeffery A. Zambie Eiza Ching, Rebecca H. Kinnebrew D. MacNeil, Sarah H. Schoen William and great-grandchildren Mac and Mary Kinnebrew and Will and C. Hall Schoen. The family prefers that those who wish may make contributions in his name to Judson Park Foundation, 2181 Ambleside Road, Cleveland, Ohio 44106. Private Family Services.


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