Gerry and Nancy Hall: Honoring a Memory Through Enduring Gifts to Bucknell

From an early age, Doug Hall '91 displayed a rare blend of curiosity, creativity and determination to his parents Gerry '63, P'91 and Nancy Hall P'91. He excelled as a multi-sport athlete, receiving varsity letters in ice-hockey, baseball and football. He also spent hours refining his artistic talents and wandered local streams in search of the perfect fly-fishing spot. "Doug had this wonderful balance," recalls his father, Gerry Hall. "He was athletic and also deeply creative."

At Bucknell, his creativity coalesced in a double-major in art and civil engineering. He excelled academically, and his connection to nature continued to grow through his involvement with the University's Outdoor Education & Leadership (OEL) program. He was introduced to rock climbing by a fellow student and was soon scaling cliffs in the Hudson Valley and West Virginia's New River Gorge. "Like everything Doug did, he approached climbing with full commitment," Gerry says. "He loved the challenge."

Doug Hall '91 embodied intellect, adventure and benevolence. His parents are honoring his memory through gifts that support Outdoor Education & Leadership and scholarship at Bucknell. Photo courtesy of Gerry '63, P'91 and Nancy Hall P'91, by Jon Allen

Doug's pull to the West was sparked in high school after a seven-week trip introduced him to the soaring Rocky Mountains, trout streams in Washington and the Snake River in Wyoming, among other landmarks. While at Bucknell, he spent his semester breaks flipping burgers in ski towns in exchange for slope passes. After graduation, he made the West his permanent home, working as a quality control engineer at Black Diamond, a company that manufactures climbing equipment. In addition, he worked as a climbing guide and was developing a reputation as a talented extreme photographer, producing images for outdoor recreation companies including The North Face.

Tragically, Doug's life was cut short when he was killed in an avalanche while climbing the challenging Fang route in Provo Canyon, Utah, in 1997. In the years since his passing, his parents have honored their son's memory by helping other young people experience the same joy, discovery and personal growth that defined Doug's life.

He left very few stones unturned. He really loved life.

Gerry Hall '63, P'91

In 2006, having been strongly encouraged by several of Doug's classmates, Gerry and Nancy established the Douglas B. Hall '91 Memorial Endowment for Outdoor Experience, which supports Bucknell's OEL program and includes the Douglas B. Hall '91 Rock Climbing Memorial, installed in 2024. Through this endowment, students connect with nature, build leadership skills, and experience the same sense of wonder and challenge that defined Doug's life.

Gerry '63, P'91 and Nancy Hall P'91 attended the dedication of the Douglas B. Hall '91 Rock Climbing Memorial Park, witnessing the impact of their generosity and the legacy they created in their son's memory. Photo by Gordon R. Wenzel

Now, the Halls are extending Doug's legacy with an estate commitment of $1 million designated to support the Douglas Hall '91 Memorial Endowment for Outdoor Experience. An additional $750,000 commitment will establish the new Douglas B. Hall '91 Scholarship. Together, these gifts ensure that future generations of Bucknellians — regardless of financial circumstances — can pursue exploration, creativity and excellence at Bucknell.

Doug's life was a fusion of intellect, originality, benevolence and adventure — values that Bucknell strives to nurture in every student. Through the Hall's generosity, those same values will continue to shape future Bucknellians for generations to come, guiding them upward, outward and forward. "Doug had a clear, grand vision for his life's future," Nancy reflects. "He wanted to live fully — to learn, create and explore. Our gifts are a way to help others live with that same sense of purpose."