John "Bucky" William Hall

John William (Bucky) Hall passed away in Sarasota, Florida, on August 24, 2018.

Bucky was born to John Wharton Bates Hall (West Medford, MA) and Madge Louise Finlason (British West Indies and Costa Rica) on October 25, 1926, in Cartago, Costa Rica. They lived in Bocas del Toro, Panama where his dad worked with the United Fruit Company/Chiquita Banana Division.

Bucky graduated from Cristobal High School in New Cristobal in

1944 where he played basketball and baseball. During the war years and until he was signed by the Dodgers organization to play with the KOM (Kansas Oklahoma Missouri) League in 1947, he pitched and played First Base with fellow Zonians and Army/ Professional players for Colon “Carta Vieja” in the Pro League in the Canal Zone. He left Ponca City and the KOM League upon the outbreak of the Korean Conflict and trained with the Navy in San Diego to repair radial aircraft engines on PBYs and PBMs.

Bucky returned “home” to Panama in 1952 and took a job with Canal Zone Customs. Bucky played First Base in the Atlantic- side Twilight League until the late 1950s.

Bucky met Margaret Anne Cosgrove, a nurse at Gorgas Hospital. They were married at Holy Family Catholic Church in Margarita, Canal Zone in April of 1955. Their son Will was born in 1961 and daughter Jill in 1964.    

Bucky also ran the Pro Shop at Brazos Brook Golf Club during the late 1960s and early 1970s.

Bucky retired from the Panama Canal Company in 1979 as

Special-Agent-in-Charge of the Canal Zone Customs Criminal Investigations Division. Anne retired from Gorgas Hospital at the same time and they returned to Anne’s hometown of Laporte, Pennsylvania for a year before cold weather and snow reminded them why she went to Panama in 1952 in the first place. They then permanently settled in Sarasota, Florida, near Bucky’s parents but continued to spend their summers in Laporte.

Bucky was predeceased by Anne in 2014. They are survived by their two children, Jill Tekampe (John) of Sarasota and Will (Kim) of St. Augustine, and five grandchildren Sumner, Virgilia, Will, Claire, and Katherine.

There will be a celebration of Bucky’s life with family following his interment in Sacred Heart Cemetery in Laporte, PA and a scattering of his and Anne’s ashes together in Panama.

          A Graveside Service will be held on Friday, November 23, 2018, at 11:00 A.M. in the Sacred Heart Cemetery, Laporte, PA, with the Msgr. Stephen D. McGough, presiding.

          To send condolences or sign the e-guestbook, please go to www.homerfuneralhome.com