A family, community, and Team Hancock legend, Jeff Hall lost his courageous battle with cancer in late July. Our friend and colleague battled this ferocious disease with positivity, courage, and humility. Our hearts are with the Hall family and everyone’s lives that Jeff touched—the ripple effect spans farther and wider than we could ever imagine.
While it feels impossible to capture Jeff’s lasting impact, we’d like to share a few stories, photos, and memories of our time together. A Casco native, Jeff’s path with Hancock Lumber likely started long before he recorded his first memory. The Hall family resided in the town of Casco for as many generations as Hancock Lumber operated, dating back to the 1800’s. His tenure spanned one of the most diverse careers anyone has had—starting in 1980 working during college summers and covering more locations and roles perhaps more than anyone else in the company’s history.
At the June 2023 Hancock Lumber board of directors meeting, Managing Owner and Board Chair, Kevin Hancock, invited Jeff to be a special guest. Kevin honored him for his 42-years of outstanding and diverse leadership contributions that helped the success and trajectory of the company.
Jeff reflected on his time with the Hancock family and shared stories about his time with the company—his wit, charm, and humor on full display, leaving the room roaring with laughter.
Like many people and families with Casco heritage, Jeff grew up alongside and within the business—he referred to the Casco lumberyard from back in the day as “one of the two big tourist attractions in town at the time”, later clarifying the Casco AG was the number two attraction!
As the board’s time with Jeff wrapped up Kevin Hancock shared a few comments:
“So, if you didn’t already know Jeff, you can see why I introduced him as the amazing Jeff Hall. This is probably going to go down in history for me as one of my favorite board segments I’ve ever, ever, ever been a part of. One of the things I really love and admire about Jeff that is also so important in this business: he’s super, super smart. So, when you’re dealing with contractors and you’re dealing with loggers, you’ve got to be able to calculate things in your head quickly and make good decisions. Jeff is so smart and a really good decision maker. He’s very poised. I’m not thinking of him as a runner in any capacity, but in this analogy, Jeff’s a marathoner and he’s gone the distance with this company. He has a pace to him that is well suited for going the distance.
He’s got this incredible perspective that never lets us take ourselves too seriously. Of course, we take it seriously and we’re all in on this—but he is always keeping it fun in the process. Jeff is incredibly resilient. Again, I think about your life and your non-work life, your career with the company and all the different things you’ve done—you’ve been on the entire ride, through the best and the worst parts. Jeff’s exceptionally hardworking; his whole family is. And Jeff is just irresistibly likable. Like everybody in Western Maine knows Jeff. Everybody. And everybody in Western Maine likes Jeff. He is a hero of the highest degree for this company, our community, our friendship and family—all of it.”
Pictured left to right Carol Hancock, Jeff Hall, Kevin Hancock at the June 2023 Board of Directors Meeting.
Mike Shane, GM of the Casco Mill, honored Jeff’s legacy at their location’s quarterly huddle this summer. Recognizing his 44-years of full-time service, along with summers since 1980, Mike shared the range of roles Jeff held from the Home Office, retail division, Hancock Land, and most recently as a leader on the log procurement team. His rapport with the logging community was like every other facet of life—significant and impactful.
Jeff Hall presenting the commemorative 175th anniversary axe to Wadsworth Woodlands in early 2024. Left to right: Caleb Winslow, Nate Wadsworth, Jeff Hall
Jeff’s community contributions also cast a wide net—from coaching sports to Casco Days and leading career days and tours, his larger-than-life presence and positivity touched so many. Over the course of his career, Jeff probably hosted hundreds of timberland and mill tours, excited to educate and share his knowledge with groups, always with a positive attitude and sense of humor. Jeff would be the first to show students about the many jobs within the forest products industry, often inviting a logging contractor to career days. If there was a fishing, hunting, or snowmobile employee or customer trip, you could be sure to see Jeff helping lead the way. His magnetic personality enabled him to connect and form relationships that spanned business, athletics, community, and beyond.
Jeff Hall, Matt Duprey + Kevin Hancock on a snowmobiling trip in Rangeley
Jeff Hall leading a Jugtown Forest tour, May 2012
A long-time Casco Days road race volunteer and announcer, Jeff always took on a big role behind the scenes helping setup and run the race. Jeff was a dear friend to many residents and visitors in the Casco area, and we’ll miss hearing his voice announcing “local favorites” and encouraging runners across the finish line. “Local favorite”, Dave Sheldrick, ran the 2024 race this year in Jeff’s honor posting the following about his friend:
“Jeff Hall was a true friend—as in one of the true friends you can count on your fingers. Jeff had a profound impact on me and my family, an all-around great guy. He was also heavily involved in this road race. As a “racer” I wanted to pay tribute to him as a friend, and to his commitment to the community. My heart breaks for his family—they are in my heart. I miss Jeff already, and I am lucky enough to carry forward treasured memories that we shared together. Here’s to Jeff Hall’s legacy.”
In a Facebook post from July 26, 2024, former basketball player and Lake Region graduate, ZZ Leighton, wrote a beautiful tribute for Coach Hall. One of so many graced by his coaching presence, ZZ’s words help capture the impact Jeff made on so many in our community.
“The gentle giant, the calm in the chaos. The soft chuckle and the big smile. I would come out of the game and find the chair directly next to you—I can still feel your big hand reassuring me with a pat on the back.
You helped me to find a quiet place in the deafening noise. I watched you speak softly even when the crowd behind me was screaming. I so admired that. I still do.
I didn’t have the appreciation for my coaches then that I do now. You poured time out of your life to make me better. As a parent and a spouse myself, now I can comprehend what you gave. You had three young kids, a wife, a big important job, and there you were sitting beside me—shaping me into a stronger person. I’m 35 now and feel overcome with emotion understanding that was a choice you made.
I’m years removed from those memories, yet this feels so heavy. Some of my closest friendships were cultivated in the space you helped create. When I see parents, teammates, other coaches—I just melt back into that time. I still love our basketball family today as much as I did when I was 17. You were a steadfast coach, friend, and mentor. And you are etched into my memory in the most special, happiest place.
How hard it is to say goodbye to you…everything you said, everything you did, every time you showed up—it mattered so much. Thank you for everything.
Alex, Nick and Elle…if you are reading this, I know we all owe you all a massive thank you for sharing your beloved Dad.
And to Rebecca, a heartfelt thank you for sharing your other half, the father to your babies, your best friend…you loaded up the kids with faces painted and brought them to every game, and even had us all to your home…you gave so much, too. Thank you, thank you, thank you. I hope you feel the light that he gave to us all. I felt it sitting next to him all those years ago—and I still feel it with me now. I’ll carry it with me forever, Coach Hall.”
A role model for us all and one of the most amazing human beings to grace this planet, we are all forever grateful for his countless contributions—to our company; to our community; to our lives. From all of us a part of the Team Hancock family, you will be missed endlessly and remembered forever—thank you for being the amazing Jeff Hall and showing up authentically every step of the way!
For anyone interested, a celebration of life will be held at Lake Region High School, Saturday, August 17 at 2pm. If you have a special tribute or memory, please share online here and we’ll compile and send to Jeff’s family: https://forms.office.com/r/zeCfN8P3gb
To read the full obituary, click here.
Browse our gallery of Jeff Hall archives below including old Roots & Branches employee newsletter articles and photos! Enlarge any image by clicking the thumbnail.
