Richard Hall, 65, of Newfane, Vt., died instantly after being struck by an automobile on the evening of Sunday September 22. Hall was born in Zanesville, Ohio, June 12, 1937.
Richard was regarded as a “character” by those that knew him, passionate about both his story telling and his antiques. He was widely known and well liked throughout the show circuit that he traveled for many years, although the only show that he and his wife Linda had participated in for the past couple years was the Vermont Antiques Dealers Show.
Richard grew up in Shaker Heights, Ohio, and later attended the Rhode Island School of Design. He eventually graduated from Brown and went on to become a professor of art at the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, N.Y.
Picking became a pastime with Richard while a student at Brown and his interest in collecting and selling antiques blossomed from that point on. After 33 years of teaching, Richard redirected his life and went into the antiques business full-time with Roger Winter, conducting business as Hall and Winter. Richard and Linda eventually struck out on their own and renamed their business L.B. Hall Limited, centered out of Newfane and also Laguna, Calif.
After retiring from his teaching duties in the early 1990s, Richard moved from New York City to Newfane, Vt., despite the fact that his friends advised him that he would never be able to survive outside of the city limits. Richard not only survived, but prospered and before long it was hard to get him to leave the countryside that he grown to love so much. “We could barely drag him back to New York,” stated Linda. Richard and Linda also spent a great deal of time in Laguna, Calif., another spot dear to their hearts.
Richard was described by many as a “well respected dealer,” including fellow Newfane dealer Jack Winner. Richard made people feel very comfortable with his smile and demeanor. He had long ago established a reputation of never misrepresenting merchandise and he was always eager to buy things back from his clients. Richard demanded satisfaction from his clients with each of the rdf_Descriptions they bought from him. “If for any reason you decide this doesn’t fit into a room, even if it is because you change your curtains, we want to buy it back,” he would say.
Hall specialized in Eighteenth and early Nineteenth Century furniture and accessories.
Richard is survived by his wife, two daughters, Alisa and Cindy, their husbands and four grandchildren. Memorial services took place September 25.