Retired Cook County Assistant State's Attorney William H. Hall IV died April 22 due to rheumatoid arthritis related to interstitial lung disease. He was 61.
Hall was born on Jan. 13, 1963, in Chicago, and spent his childhood and teen years in Springfield, Illinois. His academic record was exemplary, so he was offered early admission to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champagne upon completion of his junior year in high school.
Hall was also involved in the concert choir in both middle and high schools, and also the Sing Out Springfield Show Choir, which included all the high schools in that city. He received his BA in Political Science and Government from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champagne in 1984, and his Juris Doctor of Law degree from Georgetown University Law Center in 1987.
Hall followed in his father William H. Hall III's legal footsteps by becoming a lawyer. Hall III was a member of the Partee (Cecil Partee, who was the first Black Illinois state Senate President, Cook County State's Attorney and Chicago City Treasurer) and Green law firm and a hearing officer for the Chicago Police Board.
His legal career began in Washington, D.C., where he worked for the FCC. A job offer to become a Cook County public defender brought him back to Chicago; he worked in that position for the next 10 years. Hall then moved on to become an EEOC Administrative Law Judge for six years, and finally was a Cook County Assistant State's Attorney from July 2004-October 2017.
In 1996, Hall joined a men of color social group that Rev. Kevin E. Tindell (Fellowship of Affirming Ministries pastor under the leadership of Bishop Yvette Flunder) was facilitating in Lake View. Tindell told Windy City Times that he was not at the first meeting Hall attended, but came to the second one.
"His smile captivated me at first sight," said Tindell. "I found out later that he told his best friend that he had just met his soulmate—and that was me. I had lost my previous partner to AIDS in 1995, and Bill was just out of a relationship. I asked him out on a date, and we were never apart after that for the next 28 years. He often referred to me as the love of his life, for he was certainly mine as well."
Hall and Tindell had their Holy Union in 1998 at Wellington Avenue United Church of Christ in Lake View and were legally married in Canada on a float in the Toronto Pride Parade in 2010. They had won a contest through a Canadian dating app based on their love story.
Both Hall and Tindel always wanted children, so they adopted three sons when they were each about eight years old. They are now 33 (Carter Tindell-Hall), 28 (Christian Tindell-Hall) and 24 (Camran Tindell-Hall) years old. Since family was very important to Hall, their home became the central gathering place for many family celebrations and holidays. Carter followed Hall into the field of law.
The couple also had seven rescue dogs over the course of their relationship and oftentimes there would be four of dogs living with them at the same time. The family joke was, "Never take Bill to a dog adoption fair."
Tindell also told Windy City Times that Hall "jokingly referred to himself as a recovering Catholic, and supported my ministry as an open and affirming Protestant pastor throughout our relationship."
In addition to his work and family life, Hall also volunteered with the Fellowship of Affirming Ministries and the Chicago Bar Association, and was a board member for The Names Project AIDS Memorial Quilt—Chicago Chapter, the Lesbian and Gay Bar Association of Chicago and the Equality Illinois Legal Advisory Committee.
Hall was very politically active, including volunteering for numerous Democratic candidates' campaigns for many decades. He got his love of politics from his mother, Beverly Crigler, who worked at the Illinois State House in various capacities, including as then-Illinois state Senator Barack Obama's Springfield-based secretary.
He also loved watching tennis, traveling and eating Tindell's cooking. He would brag to everyone that Tindell had appeared on MasterChef season four because of his excellent cooking skills. Additionally, Hall loved music—most especially Chaka Khan, Prince, Swing Out Sister and Teena Marie, among many others. He also enjoyed reading, especially science fiction books; watching Jeopardy, Star Trek (he was a Trekkie), all versions of RuPaul's drag race and soap operas.
Hall was preceded in death by his father William H. Hall III and mother Beverly Crigler. He is survived by Tindell; two sisters, Judith Dawson and Melinda Crigler; two brothers, Jonathan Mitchell and Marq Baker; the couple's three sons—Carter, Christian and Camran Tindell-Hall; Fellowship of Affirming Ministries and Gather Church families; countless former work colleagues, chosen family members and friends and Thor, the couple's last dog companion.
"My brother was a tenacious, brave and kind-hearted man with a razor wit whose love for his family was boundless," said Mitchell. "During our last conversation, he told me that he loved and trusted me, and that offers a great measure of peace."
Longtime friend Jim Schiefellbein said, "My friend, comrade and brother of more than 30 years was a singular individual—an icon in fact. … We served together for several years on the Board of Directors of NAMES Project Chicago and were 'foot soldiers' at many Civil Rights marches at the local, state and national level. Those who knew him best, understood that his tongue was nearly as sharp as his staggering wit — and could delight or slay with equal ferocity."
Longtime friend Derrick Jones said, "Bill was a huge Chaka Khan fan, and he would often tell the story of going to see her at an outdoor concert during his college years. She walked on the stage like a force of nature, grabbed the microphone and in full voice announced herself with 'Hello DC' and immediately passed out. Bill began thunderously applauding, while yelling for her to get up and get it together and sing.
"That was Bill though, he would push you to get up and get it together and do your best no matter what was going on, and he never asked anything less of himself, even in those final years, he gave you the best of all he was and his example made you push harder and be better. To pick yourself up from that stage floor and give a dynamic performance, which is exactly what happened at that concert."
Longtime friend Carla Stillwell said, "Bill was a consummate legal professional with a brilliant mind. He advised me on multiple personal issues over our near 30 year friendship. He supported my work as a playwright and director. I could always count on Bill and Kevin to be seated directly in the front row. … He will be missed by so many."
Memorial service details are pending for July or August. Contact Tindell at revktindell@yahoo.com for more information.
Tindell has asked that people make a donation in lieu of sending flowers at https://www.gofundme.com/f/honoring-bill-william-hall-support-his-familys-journey.