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Linda Phillips

I am very sad to have to inform you of the death of Lydia Hall, the Senior Co-ordinator: Administration & Operations in Sport & Recreation, Department of Student Affairs. She passed away early this morning after a battle with cancer.

Ms Hall’s career at the University of Cape Town spans 31 years. She joined the university on 1 January 1986 as a Sports Administrator in what was then the Sports Administration Department. In December 1989 she was appointed as the Deputy Head of Sports Administration. In October 2007 she was appointed to her final position as Senior Co-ordinator: Admin & Operations.

More significant than the length of time she served, are the thousands of people whose lives she influenced over more than three decades: students and colleagues who shared her passion for sport and were assisted over the years by her energy and hard work. She served for years on University Sports South Africa (USSA) committees for a number of sports codes, including aquatics, hockey and rowing, contributing to the development of national student sport. Her efforts were honoured in 2010, when USSA bestowed a pro meritus award on her for her service and commitment to student sport and USSA. Ms Hall’s response to the award was typically self-effacing: “It’s about seeing students achieve something,” she told UCT’s Monday Paper. “And if you don’t serve on these committees, your students miss out.”

She was a strong campaigner for UCT’s student development sports model and was passionate about ensuring that students were empowered in student leadership roles. She loved the outdoors and had a great love for animals, especially her dogs.

Ms Hall’s colleagues remember her fondly as a person who was full of life, and who approached life with integrity and respect. She was a passionate, selfless colleague, always prepared to go beyond the call of duty. She never sought praise or attention for her contribution to student development; in her mind, success was for the benefit of the university and the students. She brought great commitment, dedication and loyalty to her work and UCT. Her kind-hearted and friendly nature will be greatly missed by her colleagues in the Department of Student Affairs, Sport & Recreation, as well as by students and all those who knew her.

Ms Hall is survived by her partner Tish, her dogs Shadow and Simcha, her mother Trudy, her brother William and her niece Amber and nephew Trent. On behalf of UCT I extend heartfelt condolences to her family, friends and colleagues on this sad loss.

Details of the memorial service will be provided in due course.

Yours sincerely

Professor Daya Reddy
Acting Vice-Chancellor