Rev. Frank Hall — minister emeritus at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation in Westport — died Tuesday, with his wife Lory Nuremberg by his side. He was 85.
A celebration of his life will be held at the congregation on Sunday, May 3 (2 p.m.).
In 2013, when Rev. Hall retired, “06880” honored him with the story below.
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As a teenager growing up near Boston, Frank Hall thought about being a minister.
Only one thing stopped him: He didn’t believe in certain things. Like the Apostles’ Creed. Or the virgin birth.
“A lot of those ideas had to be metaphors, right?” he says.
But while teaching at Wellesley High School from 1962 to ’69, and being drawn into the anti-war movement, Frank also became a Unitarian Church youth group advisor.
Frank Hall today.
His beard and activism as a draft counselor landed him in some trouble with school administrators. A minister who helped mediate the dispute told Frank, “You should be a minister.”
“I don’t believe in God!” he replied.
That seemed perfect for Unitarians. During 3 years at Boston University School of Theology he also served as assistant minister of a small, socially active congregation. Noam Chomsky was a member.
He was called to Attleboro, where he spent 12 happy years as senior minister. In 1984 the Westport Unitarian Church contacted him. Frank was not interested in leaving, but one Sunday afternoon he drove down, by himself.
He found an open door. A lifelong poetry lover, he stood at the pulpit in the stunning building surrounded by woods, and recited lines from Emerson and Whitman.
“I felt an amazing sense that this is where I should be,” he recalls.
He’s been here ever since.
This Sunday (June 9) Frank Hall delivers his last sermon. He’ll be feted the following Sunday (June 16). Then the 73-year-old retires — though he has no plans to leave Westport.
Frank Hall, in the place he feels he was “meant to be.” (Photo by Erik Trautmann/The Hour)
He looks back on 3 decades of association with “an amazing group of people in this church.” He has felt warmly welcomed — despite what may be a unique admission from a minister.
“I make no apologies for my theology, or lack of it,” Frank says. “I could be who I am here.” His was a ministry of poetry, he says.
“It hasn’t always been easy,” Frank admits. “This is not Kansas anymore. Fairfield County is not New England. It’s New York.” For a lifelong Bay Stater — the 3rd of 9 children, and son of a roofer — that took some getting used to.
But he brought a sense of stability to the church on Lyons Plains Road, he says. He did it by being “spiritual, without the theological baggage that goes along with that. Most clergy don’t like to hear ‘I’m spiritual, but not religious’ — that’s not a good customer — but spirituality can be expressed in many ways. Books and music, for instance.”
Frank says the Westport Unitarian Church’s sanctuary — with its physical connection to the outdoors — is another expression of spirituality.
Westport’s Unitarian Church.
The sanctuary was the site of Westport’s 1st gay and lesbian commitment ceremonies, during Frank’s 1st year here in 1984. He is proud of his role in making the Unitarian Church a welcoming place for the LGBT community.
He is proud too of the congregation’s growth. During his tenure the church introduced a 2nd Sunday service, and hired full-time religious education, music and social justice directors, as well as a paid youth advisor. Nine members of the church have moved from the pews into ministry.
During his ministry, Frank held dozens of 6-week sessions with small groups. They talked about spiritual journeys. Frank’s journeys also took concrete form: He took 29 “coming-of-age groups” (14-year-olds) to Boston, touring important sites in and around the birthplace of Unitarianism.
He cherishes his friendship — and regular meetings — with other clergy. “We’re a real support group for each other,” he notes. “We’re on the liberal spectrum, but they say I’m off the spectrum.”
Frank’s community involvement included the formation of the local A Better Chance house. He is also on the board of Temenos Institute.
Retirement will include spending time with his wife Lory, a hospice worker. He also hopes to publish.
Frank Hall’s home, for 30 years. (Photo/Nancy Burton)
“I’ve written 1,000 sermons, but I’ve never published anything,” Frank says. He’s eager too to revisit the 4 journals he filled during a 5-month sabbatical, 20 years ago. He drove across the country by himself, in a VW Vanagon, enjoying detailed conversations with many people he met. He envisions a book that’s “not just a travelogue, but an inner journey.”
Five years ago, Frank was diagnosed with Parkinson’s. He wanted to work 5 more years. His neurologist said, “No problem.”
“It’s worked out,” Frank says. “I feel blessed by my work. I feel blessed, as Robert Frost wrote, that I could unite my vocation and my avocation.
“It’s been a great run. A great trip. Now I’m ready to start a new chapter.”
Update: Rev. Hall’s Celebration of Life has been scheduled for Sunday, May 3, at 2 PM at UU Westport, 10 Lyons Plains Rd, Westport.
Frank was a good friend and a faithful supporter of IHA. He arrived in Westport just before I did. He was a great blessing in my life. The Rev. Peter R. Powell
Dan, thank you for posting this. Frank Hall was our minister at the UU Church. I loved him. Suzanne loved him. And he loved us. With Frank, we could honestly share our deepest convictions and concerns. When Suzanne and I wanted to get married, Frank asked us for our help in explaining to him what we wanted and why we wanted that. He listened with his heart and his mind and came full circle to join us in our quest for marriage equality. He officiated at our wedding on October 29, 2005. At the rehearsal the night before our wedding, everything had gone smoothly. The song we chose for when we marched down the aisle timed out perfectly. But at the actual ceremony, the music did not time out right because Suzanne and I were so busy greeting people as we came down the aisle. When we finally got to the altar, Frank paused, looked at us and said, “It took them so long to get here because it took them so long to get here.” The place erupted in applause. Our life in Westport has been massively enriched by having Frank in it. He loved to hear Suzanne sing and on the date of our 20th anniversary, Suzanne and I went to see Frank and Lori at their home. For almost an hour, Suzanne sang to him. He loved it. He loved it. Frank, we love you.
Beautiful words for a beautiful human being. Frank was such a gift to us.
Frank was a beacon in my life for 25 years at UUWestport. He never told you how or who to be. He created poetic and metaphorical spiritual spaces in which you could explore both. Love you Frank.
Rev. Frank Hall inspired me to go into ministry. He showed me week in and week out how to love a congregation. As many as 15 people became ministers out of Frank’s pews. His was a life well lived. Rev. Dr. Debra W. Haffner
I am saddened by the news of Frank Hall’s death. He was the minister when we joined UU Westport in 1986. Both our children were “dedicated” there by Frank. They both went through Coming of Age and went on one of those trips to Boston (Unitarian Universalist Mecca). Our daughter was married there, her first daughter also dedicated by Frank. Frank led the memorial services for my mother and Gerry (my husband’s) mother, even though neither of them were members. Everyone was welcomed at the UU Congregation of Westport and still are. So many memories, stories and the poetry. God speed Frank.
What a beautiful eulogy. Written before he left us. I think that’s the way it should be.
Thought Frank Hall brought authenticity, genuine caring, empathy, emotional engagement, knowledge of varied religious texts, strong communication, focus on the congregation, great sermons, attention to religious education and informed points of view, even if not always aligned to the majority. Tough shoes to fill then and now.
I loved the man. I was deeply honored to MC his farewell event, which was epic. He was minister to three generations of my family. My father served on the search committee that called him to Westport. Frank stood with me in some incredible highs in my life and stood steadfastly with me in some very deep lows, and I shall be eternally grateful. Thank you, Frank.