James Pierce Hale's Obituary
University of Florida Professor Emeritus
James Pierce Hale
James Pierce Hale of Gainesville, Professor Emeritus of the School of Music at the University of Florida died Thursday July 9th, 2015 at North Florida Regional with his son at his side. He was 86 and was preceded in death by Barbara, his wife of 49 years. Jim Hale was born in Chicago, Illinois on December 5, 1928. His father died when he was very young and he helped support his family by playing drums around Chicago. He told stories of playing at clubs owned by Al Capone, and playing with the Anita O’Day Trio and Lawrence Welk. He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. He was originally with the 6th Division Band and was an Instructor of Percussion in the Band Training Unit in Fort Ord, California and then with the 89th Army Band in Fort Sill, Oklahoma until his discharge. He received degrees from the American Conservatory of Music, Chicago, and from the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana. He moved to Gainesville in 1957 after accepting a position with the University of Florida. His 32 years of service in the School of Music was as Professor of Percussion and Assistant Chair until his retirement in 1989. He was a member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, Kappa Kappa Psi, NAfMC, Percussive Arts Society and is listed in national and international publications. He was also a long term member of the Kiwanis Club of Gainesville and Trinity United Methodist Church. During his retirement he became an avid painter, spent time with his grandchildren and traveled with his loving partner Lois Saks.
Survivors include his son, Jeff (Tashia) Hale of Gainesville, his grandchildren Tyler, Noah, Gwendolyn, Sophia and Gabriella, his sister Marianne Wehle of Ponte Vedra, FL, and her children Michael and Louanne.
The family will receive friends for a reception on Monday, July 13, 2015 from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. at WILLIAMS-THOMAS FUNERAL HOME WESTAREA, 823 NW 143rd St., Newberry, FL. Graveside service will be Tuesday, July 14, 2015 at 10:00 a.m. at Memorial Park Central, 4100 NW 39th Ave, Gainesville, FL.
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