Walter Dennis Hall
January 8, 1932-January 4, 2020
Walter Dennis Hall passed away on Saturday, January 4, 2020 surrounded by family. He was 87 years old.
Denny, as he was known to most, was born in Cleveland, Ohio on January 8, 1932.
As a boy, he and his family lived in Ohio, New York, Washington D.C., West
Virginia, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Illinois, and California.
After high school, he spent some time at the University of Illinois in the School of
Engineering. In 1951, he entered the army for a two year tour of duty. After his
tour, he joined his father's business in Southern California where he met his wife,
Patricia Dye. They were married in 1955. By 1960 they had four children, Doug,
Cindy, and twins Kirk and Kathy.
In 1961 Denny joined Russ Chamberlin in Portland, Oregon. From there Denny
built up the RCI brand until 1968. He was offered the position of Vice President of
Sales and Service with the manufacturing company, Supermold. He moved his family of six to Lodi, California where they spent the next two years.
Denny, loving the Pacific Northwest, knew he wanted to return to Portland to
raise his family and start his own company, Automotive Industrial Marketing Corporation
(AIMCO). For the next 24 years, he built up the company.
Later, he semi-retired and was able to spend more time at their second home in Ocean
Reef in Key Largo, Florida. There, he and Pat spent the winters enjoying the Florida
Key's weather and entertaining family and guests on boating and fishing trips. It is
what he loved to do.
In 1999, Denny officially retired from AIMCO. He kept himself busy over the last 20
years. His boat, the Nepenthe, was often crossing the bar out in search of salmon and tuna. He served on the boards of the Oregon Symphony, Portland Yacht Club, what is now All Classical Portland KQAC, and recently stepped down after 18 years from the Columbia River Maritime Museum.
Denny and Pat celebrated their 64th anniversary last summer. Their home in
Cannon Beach was where they enjoyed the slower pace of coastal living, classical
music, family, and friends. He leaves behind a legacy that will be difficult to follow.
He instilled in his family a love of the outdoors, a sense of adventure through
travel, and a strong work ethic.
Denny is survived by his wife Pat, their children and spouses Doug (Noi) Hall,
Cindy (Bruce) Bogard, Kirk (Kim) Hall, and Kathy (Neil) Sinnott; ten grandchildren;
and two great grandchildren.
A memorial service to celebrate Denny's life will be held at the Hillside Chapel in
Oregon City at 1pm on Saturday, January 18, 2020. In lieu of flowers, the family
asks that you donate in his memory to the Oregon Symphony, Columbia River
Maritime Museum, or All Portland Classical radio.