Hallahan, an award-winning novelist and long-time resident of Cherry Hill and Haddonfield, died on Aug. 21 at the age of 92.
William H. Hallahan III, a former advertising executive and an award-winning novelist and historian, died on Tuesday, Aug. 21, after a short illness. He was 92.
A long-time resident of Haddonfield and Cherry Hill, Hallahan was a man of extraordinary creative talent, intellectual curiosity and a published author, but will be remembered as a kind and generous man who shared his talents with others to help them be the best they could be. His friendships were deep and lasting with people of many ages and backgrounds. He was a determined and cheerful optimist and passionately believed in the power of positive thinking.
Hallahan had a writing career that spanned seven decades. His first job was with Temple University, where was a college English instructor, but he soon left this position to start his business career as a writer and editor of the Boot and Shoe Recorder at Chilton Publications. In 1957, he entered the ranks of the advertising world as a copywriter for M. Russell Berger, a small Philadelphia advertising agency. After a brief stint at the agency, Hallahan joined the international ad agency N.W. Ayer, then headquartered in Philadelphia, as copy chief, where he worked on accounts such as United Airlines, the Plymouth Division of Chrysler and other similar clients.
In 1968, Hallahan was sent to the Detroit offices of N.W. Ayer as part of a team to try to save the Plymouth account from leaving N.W. Ayer. The account nonetheless left, and Hallahan was then to serve as the creative director for the entire agency. He declined, and joined an ad agency that became Garceau, Hallahan and McCollough. At the same time, Hallahan also began to conduct a mail-order copyrighting course to help teach writers how to write copy.
Hallahan began to turn his focus on writing a novel. In early 1971 his wife Marion sent his first novel “The Dead of Winter” to a literary agent, and on Christmas Eve of 1971, the agent called to say that the book would be published the following year. Hallahan’s career as a novelist was launched.
He was nominated for two of the most coveted awards of mystery writers, and won the most sought after of all. His first novel, “The Dead of Winter” was one of five books nominated for an Edgar Allen Poe award for Best First Mystery Novel in 1972. Four books later in 1978, Hallahan was nominated again — and won — the Poe award for the Best Mystery Novel for his book “Catch Me: Kill Me.”
Hallahan’s writing covered the mystery, occult and non-fiction genres, and was translated into many languages and released throughout the world. His occult novel “The Search for Joseph Tully” (1974) was a New York Times best seller and hailed as one of the best books of its genre. For the book opening, mock gravestones that read “Here Lies Joseph Tully” were lined up and down Park Avenue in New York. His other works of fiction include “The Ross Forgery” (1973), “Keeper of the Children” (1978), “The Trade” (1981), “The Monk” (1983), “Foxcatcher” (1986) and “Tripletrap” (1989).
For many years, Hallahan managed dual careers as advertising executive and author. In the 1970s he started his own agency Hallahan & Hayden, Inc., which then transitioned into Hallahan Incorporated. In 1982 his daughter, Janet, joined the agency, and in the late 80s the agency partnered with the art studio The Hal Lewis Group to serve clients such as Merck and other accounts. Their combined work won several industry awards.
In the 1990s Hallahan shifted writing genres and began to write non-fiction books, including the very well received “Misfire: The History of How America’s Small Arms Failed Our Military” (1994), a book about the mishandling and corruption of government officials in the manufacturing of guns for the military throughout U.S. history, and the critically acclaimed historical books about the American “Revolutionary War: The Day The Revolution Began: 19 April 1775” (1999) and “The Day the Revolution Ended: Yorktown 19 0ctober 1781” (2004).
Hallahan was born on Dec. 12, 1925 in Brooklyn, New York, the third child to William H. Hallahan, Jr., and Berenice E. Lyons, in a family of six boys and one girl. He served in the United States Navy in World War II as radioman second class in the somewhat unexpected location of Natal, Brazil, a key location for logistical and troop support for the Northern Africa arena. When he returned home from the war he married Marion E. Wakefield, his childhood sweetheart. Their long and loving relationship ended when Marion passed away in 1998.
Hallahan matriculated to Temple University in Philadelphia, on the G.I. Bill, where he received his bachelor’s degree in Journalism (cum laude) and his master’s degree in English (cum laude). He was the first in his large family to receive a college education.
Hallahan’s interests remained deep and wide-ranging throughout his entire life. He was passionate about learning and taught himself French and Italian, traveled extensively throughout the United States and Europe, and played the banjo. He wrote until the week he died, and the last item he wrote was a memoir about his mother.
He was also a lifelong athlete. When he was 13 years old, he was diagnosed with rheumatic fever and was told he would never run again. He instead began playing handball, and then during his advertising years took up running. He ran almost every day until he was 85 years old, and continued weightlifting until the week before he died. He credited his longevity to his fitness, holistic eating and his positive attitude.
In later years, one of his greatest joys was having a quiet happy hour with his partner Diane Pregartner on their back patio.
Hallahan is survived by his daughter Janet V. Hallahan (Richard A. Montegna), his granddaughter Katherine A. Montegna, his brother Michael Hallahan, and his partner Diane Pregartner. He was predeceased by his wife of more than 50 years, Marion E. Wakefield Hallahan; his brothers Harry W. Hallahan, Townsend R. Hallahan, Gregory D. Hallahan, Dion P. Hallahan, and his sister Elizabeth Hallahan Sellers.
The family will receive friends on Wednesday, Aug. 29 at 10:30 a.m. at Grace Episcopal Church, 19 Kings Highway E, Haddonfield, NJ 08033. The funeral service will immediately follow at 11 a.m. in the church. Interment is private.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made either by check to The William H. Hallahan Fund, c/o The Authors Guild Foundation, 31 East 32nd Street, 7th Floor, New York, NY 10016 (please note on the check the name of the fund), or by credit card online at www.authorsguild.org/donate (please click on the button that indicates you are making a tribute gift and add William H. Hallahan’s name to the donation form).
