Chris Hall loved his life and lived it to the fullest. He was born September 17, 1950 and left us on December 21, 2014 following a long battle with Cancer.
Chris is survived by his loving wife, Pam Harknett; sister, Janice (Doug) Hemming; stepsons, Brock (Jane) and Drew Henson and grandchildren, Georgia and Annika Henson. Chris was a very loving husband, brother, stepfather and “Papa” to all.
He was a third generation Victorian and the son of Leon and Mildred Hall. He attended Margaret Jenkins Elementary, graduated from Oak Bay High in 1967 and attended the University of Victoria. On May 17, 1986, he married long time friend and fellow UVIC Vike, Pam Harknett. Chris retired from BC Buildings Corporation in 2005.
Chris cherished his summers at Shawnigan Lake, winters in Palm Desert and year round golf with his buddies at Uplands Golf Club. Attending major sporting events and concerts across North America were also passions for Chris.
Chris excelled in baseball, basketball, football, rugby and lacrosse. Through sports, he made many friendships that would last his entire life. In basketball, Chris played for the UVIC Vikes and later the Senior Men’s Scorpions and Datatech teams. In football, Chris was a receiver and kicker with the BC Football Conference Dolphins and was named to the all-time Victoria team. In rugby, Chris first played for Velox, then moved on to first division with the James Bay Athletic Association. In baseball, Chris was an infielder with the Victoria Senior Amateur All Stars and spent a year in the Southern Baseball League with Swift Current just prior to being drafted by the Boston Bolts of the National Lacrosse League in 1975.
From that point, Chris launched a storied career in lacrosse that would conclude with being recognized as one of the greatest coaches and mentors in the game. He spent nine years as a player and ten years as Head Coach of the Victoria Shamrocks, winning three Mann Cups along the way. In field lacrosse, Chris co-founded the Senior A Men’s Victoria Seasprays/Royal Waxmen Club that won 14 Ross Cup national championships. Chris was a defenseman with Canada’s National Field Lacrosse Team through three World Championships and was selected to the All World Team at the World Games in Los Angeles in 1984. He then went on to become Head Coach of the National field lacrosse team through two more World Championships. Chris also coached Team England in two world indoor box lacrosse championships.
Chris was named Head Coach of the National Lacrosse League Calgary Roughnecks in 2002 and won an NLL Championship. After six years in Calgary, he went on to become Head Coach of the San Jose Stealth and won another NLL title when the team moved to Washington in 2012, becoming only the second coach in the history of the league to win titles with two different teams.
Chris spent 12 years as a Head Coach in the National Lacrosse League, was a five-time All Star Game coach and retired this year as the 3rd all-time wins leader. He was nominated and won election as an NLL Hall of Fame inductee Class of 2014. Chris was also inducted into the Greater Victoria Sports Hall of Fame in October of 2014.
We will be celebrating Chris’ phenomenal life on Monday, January 12, 2015 at 3:00 p.m. in The Carson Room, Level 2, Victoria Conference Centre, 720 Douglas Street, Victoria, BC.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Shamrocks Alumni University Scholarship program in memory of Chris Hall. Cheques payable to “Victoria Shamrock Alumni”, c/o 4174 Thornhill Crescent, Victoria BC, V8N 5E5.
Condolences may be offered to the family below.
McCall Bros. Funeral Home
www.mccallbros.com
62 Responses
Pam, I’m so very sorry for your loss. My thoughts are with you.
Louise
Charlie, Lauren and I have Chris in our hearts and souls. The mark of a great man is that people speaking highly of him long after he is gone.
I was proud to work with CH as a member of the 2004 Calgary Roughnecks and when we won the World Championship that year the smile on his face when he lifted the Champions Cup over his head said a million words.
I know Chris in heaven you and Les Bartley will be talking lacrosse every day.
I was proud to know you and will miss seeing you behind the bench.
GOD BLESS YOU
Dear Pam,
My Mom and family are really sorry for your loss. He was great guy and I’ll always remember the basketball games at First United and Uvic, and the great stories of success in lacrosse over the years. Our deepest sympathy to you and your family.
Dave Tooby
My deepest condolences and sympathies to the Hall family on the passing of my great friend of these last 11 years and childhood hero Big CH #13 nooboby ever beat him.also I’d like to offer the same for Milly on her passing last year. For these last 11 years since the Rocks played at bear mountain the highlight after each game was talking to Chris and Milly they always talked to me after each game and were always positive and funny. I will always remember their smiles and laughs. I’ll remember posing with CH in 05 and he and Bruce Alexander helping me raises the Mann cup over my head. Thank you Chris for being a great player super coach and friend I’ll never forget you and Milly may you both r.i..p.
Dear Pam and family,
I am extremely saddened for your loss. About three years ago I had the great privilege to be invited to play golf on Tuesdays with Chris. He was great company, a great golfer and athlete, and had a wonderful sense of humour. For me Tuesdays’ golf will never be the same.
We’ll always remember Chris – A.K.A. Leon, Midnight, Champagne, Leander, CH – as a great friend, an outstanding competitor and a true family man. Wise beyond his years as evidenced by his extraordinary coaching career, Chris was always eager to pass on pearls of wisdom, one of which I remember distinctly. He once told me, “Mulcs, if you don’t use it you lose it.” Decades later, that has certainly rung true in my case.
I’ll remember Chris for his ability to listen, and understand, and care about his friends. His cackle-like laugh is legendary and during our years playing basketball together, we laughed a lot. Chris and I once played gin rummy on a road trip to Yakima Washington. Van – ferry – highway = 11 straight hours. At a penny a point, Chris came out on top by 67 cents. Always a winner.
Chris told me as a kid on Chandler Ave. sitting around the dinner table with Millie, Leon and Jan, that his parents would always stress to give back to the community. One example of that is that he and Jan purchased a birthday bell for the children at Margaret Jenkins Elementary across from the family home. On their birthday, a child gets to ring that bell donated in the Hall name – a fun, joyous moment for years to come.
Clearly, Chris touched many, many lives in such a positive way and we will look forward to a cheer and a tear in his honour on the 12th.
Dave, Annie and Jack Mulcahy
Very sorry to hear about Chris. We are thinking of you and your family. Give our best to Drew and Brock. Remember those baseball days. Take care.
Love Dn and Wen
Darling Friend Pammie,
There is true physical and emotional heartache in life ~ this time is clear proof of that!
Christopher was so much to so SO many!.
He had us ALL at “Hello”… He was everything lovable: Delicious to look at, Ridiculously razor sharp wit, Beyond fun… oh so funny (that laugh!), Beyond joyful about life~an absolute “give it all kinda guy”, Generous, Kind, Sincere, A guy’s Guy, A Girl’s Guy, an unmeasurable Friend, devoted Son / Brother / Step Dad/GranD, and adoring Husband…
Love gave you each other ~~ how awesome was that! … People dream/wish/pray for a “best friend marriage” ~~ you two where the upmost example of that… we friends got to enjoy the two that together simply where known as “One”.
I was ~ and always will be so proud and honored to be your friend… and to have walked a shared path with the likes of you two… oh so lucky me.
I know your family surrounds you and that you will celebrate Chris within the spirit of love that is Christmas… there are SO MANY raising glasses of cheer right now!
Know that you are in my thoughts so deeply and with much love. Deepest heartfelt to Sister Jan too.
In absolutely tender loving memory of our ~ your Chris.
xxo
Sher
… I remember OH SO MANY days–and “those nights” like they where but a few short years ago… WE always had the most amazing fun ~~ as life should be! 🙂
My condolences to Chris’ family from John and Louise Grant and family and the Peterborough Minor Lacrosse Association.