Teacher

If you had to describe Pete and Ann Hall in one word, “teacher” would be the most appropriate. Whether it was in the classroom, on the ball field, or through a community organization, Pete and Ann Hall were both teachers in every sense of the word. Through the many ways they imparted their knowledge and wisdom to others, they positively impacted countless lives. It’s probably no surprise that Pete and Ann Hall met while teaching, at Somerville High School in 1965.

Ann Hall’s teaching career spanned over 30 years. She held various special education and English positions throughout schools in Somerset County. Ann had deep faith and was very active within Liberty Corner Presbyterian Church, holding various positions, big and small, from church usher to Deacon. She was always there to lend a helping hand. Her faith in God led to the manner in which she taught those around her, doing unto others as you would have them do unto you.

Ann was an extremely caring and understanding person, always focused on the needs of others. The daughter of Scottish immigrants who settled in North Plainfield, she never took anything in life for granted. Hard work, generosity and caring towards others, strong faith, and the importance of education – these were all pillars of Ann’s incredible teaching attributes. Ironically, Ann was not much of a sports fan, which also illustrates how she put others’ interests before her own. It’s hard to fathom how many soccer, basketball, football, and baseball games Ann attended to support Pete and sons Alan and Ian.

The basis of Pete’s teaching legacy began on the playing field. A three-sport star athlete at Bound Brook High School, Pete continued his storied baseball career at Rutgers University. As a Scarlet Knight third baseman, he earned All-American honors in 1961 and 1962. He is still 10th on the Rutgers career batting average list at .384. Pete was then offered a contract by the New York Yankees organization, where he played for three years in Greensboro, NC, Idaho Falls, ID and York, PA where he reached the AA level, actually finishing out his career as a member of the Washington Senators organization in 1964. Following his professional baseball career, Pete turned to education and high school athletics. After teaching in Somerville, he began his 30-year teaching career at Ridge HS where he held positions in Science and Physical education. He also served as the RHS athletic director at the end of his career.

He also began his legendary coaching career, where he built the Ridge Red Devils into a perennial baseball powerhouse. In the 1980s his teams averaged 20 wins per season. For his athle

But it was the impact of his teaching of “life skills” to countless people in the classroom and the ball field that may have been his greatest accomplishment. Pete had a casual, non-threatening yet authoritative way of connecting with his players, and forged lifelong relationships with many of them. One of his former players, a team captain on his 1987 state championship team put it this way: “He didn’t just teach us how to be baseball players, he taught us how to be men.” Years after leaving Ridge High School, many continued to seek his counsel and guidance. Pete never turned anyone away.tic accomplishments, Pete was inducted into the Bound Brook HS Hall of Fame, Rutgers Olympic Hall of Fame, Ridge High School Hall of Fame, and NJ Interscholastic Athletic Association Hall of Fame.

Those who had the opportunity to know Pete and Ann Hall were better for knowing them – they had the wonderful attribute of seeming to connect with everyone they met. Teachers in every sense of the word, the Ridge baseball family, the Bernards Township community, and countless others have benefitted from their influence.