Over 100 patients, colleagues, nurses, Wellington Dukes alumni, family and friends of Dr. Leroy Hall joined together at St. Andrew’s Circle of Friends last Friday to celebrate the legacy of a family doctor who served Prince Edward County for over half a century.

Dr. Hall arrived in Picton in 1958, fresh from the Queen’s School of Medicine with his new bride, Maureen.  Originally from Roebuck, near Spencerville, he was keen to start a family and study general practice medicine in a community that was home to what was at the time a brand new hospital. Dr. Hall delivered hundreds of babies at Memorial before he became an Ear, Nose and Throat specialist in 1987. He continued to practice until the early 2000s.

Throughout his many years at the Hospital, Dr. Hall developed a reputation for the care he took of his community. He was County Coroner for close to three decades and served twice as the hospital’s Chief of Staff. He was a director on the Ontario Medical Association board. 

Officiant Rev. Lynne Donovan noted Dr. Hall saw the full spectrum of life here, from the joyous occasions to the times of loss and tragedy. 

“When he was County Coroner, he would attend every call wearing a white shirt, because he believed that even in death, every person deserves respect,” Rev. Donovan said.

Service outside of PECMH was also part of Dr. Hall’s mission. He was a Kiwanian and contributed to the local service club for 45 years, serving as President in 1964. He lived with his wife Maureen on a 55-acre horse-and-cattle hobby farm just outside of Picton, and was involved with the Prince Edward Agriculture Society. He spent his summers going to horse shows, baling hay, and enjoying the water sports on Consecon Lake. His favourite extracurricular though, was his role as team doctor to the Wellington Dukes, a post he held for 35 years.

Dr. Hall spent a good portion of his retired life travelling the world with Maureen in everything from an RV to a cruise ship.

Speakers at the service included Dale Kingston and Dr. Irene Kolabinksi. A former neighbour, Byron Beeler, sent a message. 

Dr. Kolabinski was one of a number of retired local physicians in attendance. She spoke to Dr. Hall’s professional and community lives. Once established, Dr. Hall took just as great care with the medical staff as he did with his patients. Dr. Kolabinski was just one of many colleagues Dr. Hall recruited to the County. 

When fellow Queen’s University School of Medicine grad Dr. Cliff Rice arrived in Picton in 1980, Dr. Hall was one of the community’s leading physicians, instrumental in attracting and retaining good colleagues. 

“Quiet spoken and a true gentleman, Leroy led by example. He set an amazingly high standard for medical care in this community, a legacy reflected in the many new physicians that came after,” said Dr. Rice. “It was an honour to have known and worked with him.”

Former Wellington Dukes Head Coach and General Manager Marty Abrams said that having Dr. Hall attend both road and home games reassured him that, medically speaking, the hockey club was in the best of hands.

“As the Head Coach of the Dukes, I cannot tell you the peace of mind I felt with Dr. Hall in the stands at both our games at the Dukedome as well as on the road. I always knew the well being of the players was first and foremost with Dr. Hall and that never wavered. I had tremendous respect for him and want to extend my condolences to Maureen and the Hall family.”