Bucks
William Eastburn Obituary
Dear Friends,
Good
morning. A giant has passed from our midst. Last Friday, William Eastburn
Bill’s professional career as a Bucks County attorney and his life as an activist were legendary. He had friends and colleagues from all over the world. Whether it was his association with American Indians, President of the Pennsylvania and Bucks County Bar Associations, founder of Today (a drug treatment organization), or creating the Bucks Mont Katrina Relief Project, Bill Eastburn made a difference.
Bill even had an audience with the Pope! It reminded me of an old joke, which could stand an update “Who’s the guy in a red hat standing on the balcony with Bill Eastburn?”
He had that second sense, that special intuitive instinct that identified a need and brought people together to do something about it. When a mentally unstable former client shot him at point blank range, he lived to tell the tale and founded the Voice of Reason to put an end to gun violence. Bill enlisted the surgeon who’d saved his life in the cause.
Mighty Betsy and I met Bill and Connie Eastburn 48 years ago as newly married couples. There were hilarious moments along the way. We talked about writing a book about Eastburn and Meredith…the names of our pet dog (“Eastburn”) and their pet jackass (“Meredith”).
Connie convinced us to take one of their cute puppies, a mix between an Airedale and a black Labrador. We called the dog “Eastburn” which hardly amused the other Eastburns of Doylestown. Connie and Bill responded by naming their jackass “Meredith.” The exploits of both animals would have been a hit.
Bill had the instincts of a journalist and often gave me subjects for columns. One of his best leads was the story about “Bernie Mellon,” a 150-pound Bernese mountain dog owned by Attorney Tom Mellon and his wife, Sara Webster. “Bernie” managed to put Sara’s convertible in gear causing her BMW to crash into the Eastburn car…in the parking lot of the Bucks County Bar Association, no less. What could be better for witnesses…than several hundred lawyers?
It was Bill who encouraged me to enter politics in 1962. He was an Assistant District Attorney serving under District Attorney Paul Beckert who subsequently became a Bucks County judge. I was moaning about governmental indifference and pontificating about the little guy that has no chance to lead county or state affairs.
I thought that the Bucks County Republican Committee needed a thorough house cleaning but had no idea about how to do anything about it except to complain. Bill knew exactly what to do. He challenged me to get involved in the GOP organization and help him change it from within. We did.
Four years later, I was sworn in as a Bucks County Commissioner. Bill was just 35, I was 32.
Last October Betsy and I attended the Bucks County Distinguished Citizen award ceremony for 2007. One of three honorees, Bill laughed about his acceptance speech. “It will be uncharacteristically brief,” he began. “My message is to put it back [meaning to serve the community with one’s time and talent]. Put it back as opposed to taking. You’ll get so much more out of life.”
Bill had great timing and knew the value of brevity. The other two honorees had interesting talks but failed to understand that the seat cannot endure more than the mind can absorb.
My recollection was that Bill spoke for just a minute…but he had much to say. Laughing with this quip, he finished his talk to a very appreciative audience. “Now I’m going to shock you because I’m sitting down,” he said.
A memorial service is being planned for April. It will take a huge venue to accommodate the thousands who’ve been influenced so positively throughout these years.
Connie, you are in our earnest and constant prayers.
Sincerely,
Charles Meredith