Remembering Rascha

By Kathy Bradford —

Rascha Hall, a long time Palos Verdes Democrats member, passed away on March 7 after a lifelong battle with lung disease. It was her 83rd birthday. Rascha served as secretary, vice president, and president of the PV Democrats over the last six years.  She was an avid supporter of Democratic ideals, campaign events and candidates and showed up for rallies, marches and fund-raising events. She held meet and greet meeting for Al Muratsuchi and other candidates in her home.  She actively recruited others into the club (including me).

Rascha went to Antioch College, where she met the love of her life, David Hall, in chemistry class.  She frequently said that David was the only thing she got out of her required chemistry class.  They were married three years later and celebrated their 62nd wedding anniversary in September 2022.

Rascha had BA degrees in math and teaching and was a math teacher at PV High School for many years. She loved her students and continued to tutor math students for 14 years after retirement.  Many of her former students were Facebook buddies as well.

Rascha was a good friend to many people.  She never forgot anyone’s birthday (even if, as she often joked, it was her tradition to send cards late), and frequently brought people together by hosting parties and celebrations.  For 50 years she and David hosted large High Holiday gatherings and Passover Seders for the High Holidays, always making space for anyone who needed somewhere to go; and, in recent years Rascha organized a “Lunch Bunch” with some friends.  She was an active member of Congregation Ner Tamid where she also took classes in Hebrew for three years.  She was passionately interested in preserving her Jewish cultural heritage.

Rascha was also a board member of Palos Verdes charity group Help the Homeless Help Themselves (HHHT) from the 1980s to 2015, serving as treasurer for many years and president for two. After it ended, she maintained an active interest in and support of several of the charities that HHHT supported including the House of Yahweh South Bay Outreach Center in Lawndale, and Rainbow Services for victims of domestic violence in San Pedro.

Rascha is survived by her husband and PV Democrats member David Hall, children Ronna Harris, Cheryl Hall, Darren Hall, and Laurie Hall; her children’s spouses; granddaughters Mara Harris, Paige Harris, and Eileen Hall; and brothers Mordecai and Jacque Labovitz.  In lieu of flowers, those wishing to honor Rascha’s memory are encouraged to donate to the American Jewish World Service, Citizen’s Climate Education, or the justice or ecological organization of your choosing.