James F. Hall, 96, of Yarmouthport, MA and formerly of Poughkeepsie, NY died Tuesday, May 1, 2018 at Cape Regency Rehabilitation and Health Care Center in Centerville, MA. Born in Detroit, Michigan, Dr. Hall was the son of the late Cortez Hall and Bertha (Breitenswischer) Hall. He attended the University of Michigan and Wayne State University, and obtained his Doctorate of Education degree in higher education administration and social foundations at Teachers College, Columbia University in 1953. During World War II, he served as Lt. (j.g.) with the U.S. Navy, 1943-1946, assigned to shore base installations and ship board duty, including 2 years combat duty in the South Pacific. Dr. Hall began his teaching career in social sciences in 1948 at Highland Park Junior College in Michigan. He was administrative assistant to the president at New York City Community College, Brooklyn New York, 1950-1951; dean of Student Personnel Services at Orange County Community College in Middletown, New York, 1951-1955; assistant to the president and dean of the Collegiate Technical Division of Ferris State College in Big Rapids, Michigan 1955-1957. In 1957 he became the founding president of Dutchess Community College in Poughkeepsie, New York and continued there for 15 years. Under his leadership, an abandoned TB hospital on a desolate, overgrown parcel of land became a thriving educational institution, currently among the larger and more highly ranked community colleges in the country. In 1972 he was selected to be the third president of Cape Cod Community College where he served 15 years until his retirement in 1987. While in New York State, he was a trustee of the Middle States Area (Accrediting) Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools and was chairman of the School/College Relations Committee, 1965-1972. He was a member and vice-chairman, State Advisory Council on Vocational Education, New York State Education Department 1967-1972, and member, Board of Trustees, Associated Colleges of the Mid-Hudson Area, serving as its first chairman, 1963-1972. He was also a member of the Boards of Vassar Brothers Hospital, Dutchess County Commission on Human Rights, and Hudson Valley Pattern for Progress. In Massachusetts, Dr. Hall served as Chairman, Presidents’ Council of Regional Community Colleges, 1974-1975; president, Massachusetts Administrators in Community Colleges, 1974-1975; member, Board of Directors, SACHEM (Southeastern Association for Cooperation in Higher Education in Massachusetts) 1975-1978, president, 1976. He was president of the College Consortium for International Studies from 1983-1987 and a trustee of the New England Board of Higher Education from 1975 to 1987. He was also a member of the Massachusetts Health Facilities Appeals Board from 1988 to 1991; Cape Cod Economic Development Commission, 1983-1985; Cape Cod Hospital Board of Trustees, 1978-1987. Throughout his career, Dr. Hall was a passionate and outspoken advocate for public higher education. In the 1950’s and 1960’s he was a frequent speaker on behalf of establishing community colleges in all parts of the country, and he published several articles on community college education. He believed that the unique benefit provided by public higher education for all citizens was one of the greatest resources of our democratic nation.

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