June 10, 2009
Honoring Nancy and Ferris Hall
By Ellen Forrester
Debbie Raptopoulos, a long term supporter and board member of The Friends of Hall’s Pond Sanctuary, gave a memorable review honoring Nancy and Ferris Hall at the June Annual Meeting of The Friends of Hall’s Pond. Debbie presented “a service award in the spirit of deep affection and gratitude for their devotion to the Town of Brookline and Hall’s Pond Sanctuary. Civic minded and devoted residents, having lived across the street from this jewel in our towns’ necklace, Nancy and Ferris were among the original founders of The Friends of Hall’s Pond when it assisted the conservation commission in the pond’s management in 1976. Twice a year, Ferris can be seen pulling the wagon made by his fatherin- law across the street for the clean up days, gloves and clippers at the ready. He was a Town Meeting member for decades and can still be seen sitting at many a town meeting with his trusty PDA, so old that they no longer sell parts for it. Ferris took part in advocating for the Hall’s Pond rehabilitation in 2001–2002. He is happy and helpful, smart and interesting, and a funny human being. They are responsible for many people’s involvement on this board and many others.
Ferris is a historian, deeply engaged in being a witness to events in this town and spreading the knowledge of how this area began and how, over time, it developed into what it is now. He now has a traveling PowerPoint presentation about the history of the Cottage Farm neighborhood and Hall’s Pond Sanctuary. He has been seen in living rooms and hotel spaces across the area with his slide show and talk. To Nancy and Ferris, in his own words: ‘you are the best!’ ”
An American Elm tree was planted near the gates to the Hall’s Pond Sanctuary this year in recognition of their past, present and future support.