Clarence S. Hall

Capt. Clarence S. "Mike" Hall, Jr., USCG Ret., 94 of Sanford, Maine passed on Thursday, January 14, 2016 with his family by his side. Mike was born on February 1, 1921 to Clarence and Lucietta (Buck) Hall, Sr. in Taunton, Mass. He attended school in Taunton and graduated from Raynham high school in 1938. He attended the University of Michigan and was proud to say he played center and end for the Wolverines football team alongside Heisman Trophy winner Tom Harmon. He was a Golden Glove recipient and always proud of his surprise left hook! In the spring of 1941 Mike enlisted as a Seaman Apprentice in the United States Coast Guard and served in the Atlantic on the USCG Spencer escorting convoys across the ocean. He is credited with being the first American to board an enemy warship on the high seas since the War of 1812. Mike was the first enlisted man in the Coast Guard to receive a permanent commission at the end of World War II. In October of 1947 while serving aboard the USCGC Bibb, he was awarded the Gold Life Saving medal and the Legion of Merit award for his heroic role in the rescue of all 69 people on the Bermuda Sky Queen, a downed flying boat aircraft in the North Atlantic. Mike had a long and distinguished career in the Coast Guard and worked up in the ranks to retire with rank of Captain. Following his retirement from the Coast Guard, Mike was a Merchant Marine with qualifications to captain any size ship of any tonnage in any waters. He retired in 1983. He was also Master of the training vessel at Southern Maine Vocational Technical Institute in Portland during the 1970's and taught at the Maine Maritime Academy for a period as well. When Operation Desert Storm started Mike accepted the call for merchant mariners and at age 70 he served as an officer on a freighter, transporting munitions to the Persian Gulf. After Mike's retirement, he and his wife enjoyed traveling across the country in their motor home. They also enjoyed cruises and trips to South America, Australia, New Zealand, the Panama Canal, Alaska and Europe. Mike was an avid reader, especially loving history. He was an intelligent and witty man and will be remembered as a gentleman, a patriotic man who had a deep love for this country. He was a true American hero and will be dearly missed by all who knew and loved him. Mike was predeceased by a daughter Sally Taylor and by his six siblings. Surviving are his beloved wife, Eleanor Hall of Sanford, son Dr. Michael Hall and his wife Judy of Sarasota, Florida, and three step children: Susan Hough of Sanford; Patricia Famolare and her husband John of Portsmouth, New Hampshire; and Thomas Hough of Sanford; a son-in-law Richard Taylor of Texas; nine grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and nieces and nephews all dearly loved. Mike also leaves his beloved cat, Rascal. At Mike's request, services will be private. The family would like to express their gratitude to the staff at Lodges Care Center and to Hospice for their loving care. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you do something special to honor a Veteran. Arrangements are under the direction of Black Funeral Homes and Cremation Services, Sanford-Springvale. To leave a message of condolence for the family, please click on the condolences tab to the left.