Equipment And Facilities Specialist Retires After 38 Years At North Campus

Bryan Hall has been a part of the Miami Dade College community since he was 18. 

After graduating from Miami Northwestern Senior High School in 1982, he earned an associate’s degree in marketing and business administration from North Campus.

In the mid-80’s, Hall started as a part-time outreach technician in the media services department. 

That assignment marked the beginning of a 38-year era at the campus for Hall. In March, the 59-year-old retired from his post as equipment and facilities specialist at North.

“He was very dependable and in this business you have to have a dependable person to rely on,” said Raul Alfonso, who serves as the North Campus’ facilities planner and has known Hall for two decades.

After Hall earned his associate’s degree at MDC, he enrolled at the University in Miami to pursue a bachelor’s degree in marketing while working two jobs. But he struggled to balance both worlds.

“I worked on the weekends,” Hall recalls. “I was the youngest one. I would always volunteer to work events because I had a lot of charisma and I didn’t really need a lot of sleep.”

When he was 12 credits shy of completing his bachelor’s degree, Hall dropped out of UM to focus on his career at MDC.

From 1985-98, the then 21-year-old served as the gymnasium manager at North Campus, supervising games, events and equipment-usage.

By 1999, Hall was appointed coordinator of special events in the campus services department. His roles included managing work orders and planning events.

Two years later, he became an equipment and facilities specialist for campus administration. A central part of his job was ensuring furniture and equipment was properly moved and installed during renovations. 

The affable Hall formed many close friendships while at MDC. One of those close ties was with Daisy Cruz, an office specialist in the academic affairs department. She has known Hall since  1994.

Cruz often gave Hall a ride to and from work. They frequently went to dinner on Fridays.

“When I first started, he was very helpful. Especially with all the different sports that we had in the P.E department,” Cruz said.  “He’s very dedicated, hardworking, pleasant [and] knowledgeable about his job and about how to get it done.”  

But things started changing for the fast-paced Hall last November when he began experiencing health complications.

He battled thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura, a rare blood disorder that causes blood clots to develop in small vessels.

Before Thanksgiving, one of Hall’s knees was so swollen that he was unable to walk. The pain became so unbearable that the fire rescue department transported him to Palmetto General Hospital. 

After discovering he had a septic infection that required surgery, Hall underwent blood transfusions that resulted in pneumonia and almost kidney failure. He remained hospitalized until January. 

“The hardest part was the physical therapy,” Hall said. “I know [we all] know physical therapy is hard, but I had to learn how to walk again.” 

 Hall currently uses a wheelchair and walker. That has prevented him from enjoying his  favorite hobby—walking around the lake near his home in Miami Lakes.  

Many of his co-workers like Portia Mckinney, an administrative office clerk, were saddened by the news of his retirement.

Mckinney, who affectionately refers to Hall as her “work husband,” admires his caring and positive attitude and willingness to help others. 

She recalls the time Hall assisted a student with a disability, who was having issues finding a desk she was comfortable sitting at. 

“Bryan helped her no matter how many days it took her to come up here. She came and he found the right table,” Mckinney said. “She really thanked him because, you know, not only [did] she feel comfortable, now she was able to do her work just like other students.”

For Kastanza Harris, a former equipment manager at North Campus, Hall is family. The duo occasionally planned picnics at the park. Harris would bring his family and Hall brought his nephews. 

“Sometimes I’ll go to his mom’s house and he knows my mom personally. He knows my family, my son, my wife; he knew them personally too. Some of them called him Uncle Bryan,” Harris said. “He was more like a brother to me than a co-worker.”

The last project Hall worked on at North Campus was the Math Lab renovation. He hopes to one day see the final product in person.

Hall is currently adjusting to retirement—sleeping in, watching the news and enjoying a cup of coffee every morning. 

He looks forward to adopting a dog, finishing his bachelor’s degree online and continuing physical therapy.

“My main goal is to start mobility again, [being] able to walk on my own,” Hall said. “That’s the [top] of the mountain, that’s where I need to get.”

Click here to subscribe to our bi-weekly newsletter, The Hammerhead. For news tips, contact us at mdc.thereporter@gmail.com.