Dr. Ivan Hall — Kentville

HALL, Dr. Ivan Victor passed away on Thursday, August 9, 2018 at the Valley Regional Hospital, Kentville. Ivan was the son of Bradford and Evelyn (Smith) Hall and the loving husband of Carol (Wright) Hall. He is survived by his four children, Dorothy (Dartmouth); Peter (Joanne), (Lower Sackville); Helen (Vancouver); John (Veronica), (Tres Rios, Costa Rica) and two granddaughters, Sophie (Fogo Island) and Louise (Wolfville). A bona fide Nova Scotian, Ivan was born in Parrsboro and attended Parrsboro High School. He entered Acadia University just after his 16th birthday and graduated with a BSc in 1948 and a MSc in 1949. Following graduation, he accepted a position with Canada Agriculture and after one year was granted a leave of absence to pursue graduate studies at Cornell University in economic botany, with minors in forest soils and plant physiology. He was awarded a PhD in 1953. While studying at Cornell, he met his future wife, Carol, whom he married in June, 1953. Ivan's entire professional career was spent at the Kentville Research Station where he made significant contributions to the low bush blueberry and cranberry industries, collaborating on over 125 scientific papers. In 1976, he represented Canada at the first international conference on Vaccinium (genus of the blueberry and cranberry plants) in the Netherlands and was the news reporter for the Cranberry magazine for several years. Along with Robert Murray, he organized a meeting for cranberry producers throughout North America, which was held in Kentville in 1987. In addition to his professional activities, Ivan was active in the community. He was a devoted member of the Kentville United Baptist Church for over 60 years and faithfully walked the two miles back and forth to church on Sundays until shortly before his death. Ivan belonged to the Masonic Order, was active in the Glooscap Curling Club where he and Carol wrote a weekly report in the Kentville Advertiser for several years and enjoyed gardening. He was also an avid card player; he played both cribbage and bridge with friends and as a highlight at family gatherings. As a graduate of Acadia University, he took a lifelong interest in the university. His 4 children all attended Acadia and his granddaughter, Louise, is now a student there. However, his greatest love was his golf time at Ken Wo where he enjoyed the friendship of Keith, Mel, Jack, Harris and many others. Cremation has taken place. There will be no visitation, by request. A celebration of his life was held at 2 p.m. on Monday, August 13, 2018 in the Kentville Baptist Church, Reverend Dr. David Bielby officiating. Burial took place later at the Fairview Cemetery in Lawrencetown, Annapolis County. Donations in memory of Dr. Hall may be made to the charity of your choice. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the White Family Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Kentville. On-line condolences and inquiries may be directed to www.whitefamilyfuneralhome.com.