Local Government TV

▼

Tuesday, December 04, 2012

Gay Elwell: Judge, Lady and Friend

Gay Elwell
She'd kill me if I told you this, but she was always a hottie to me. I got to know her back in the day, when I drank too much and frequented The Garrison Bar. That was the watering hole for young reporters and lawyers. Everybody hit on Gay Elwell back then. You see, in addition to being quite attractive, she had a brain and could hold her own with the best trial lawyers.

In my cups, I am certain I proposed to her several times while attempting tp impress her with my skills at PAC-MAN and ASTEROIDS. She always let me down gently.

GAME OVER.

I remained a buffoon and went on to get my law license suspended. She, like most others, grew up and became The Morning Call's Northampton County Courthouse reporter, succeeding the great Peg Rhodin.

Matching Peg Rhodin would be an accomplishment for anyone, but Gay was not finished. She went on to become a District Judge, and a pretty damn good one at that.

She made one mistake. She remained my friend, even though I gave her ample reason to deny ever having known me. When I started blogging, she actually helped, shooting me an email now and then to point out my numerous spelling and grammatical errors. You see, she was still a writer.

And a voracious reader. I bumped into her at The Easton Public Library every week. I'd grab historical biographies, while she preferred trash. Must be why she read my blog.

Her brother went missing a few months ago, and I know that really ate away at her. But she put on a brave face. "Cheers, my dear. Keep your chin up," she'd tell me as I complained about this and that.

Easton has lost a good front-line judge with lots of common sense. I call them mini-judges, but they are often the only thing that prevents an urban area like Easton from breaking out in riots.

I, and many others at the courthouse, have lost a friend.

I'll miss you, Gay.
at

24 comments:

  1. AnonymousDecember 4, 2012 at 3:01 AM

    So will we all.

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnonymousDecember 4, 2012 at 5:39 AM

    Sorry for the loss of your friend. Good time to reflect that there is are real people on the otherside of a blog posting.

    ReplyDelete
  3. AnonymousDecember 4, 2012 at 6:29 AM

    Oh Bernie
    So sorry to read this news in today's paper.

    ReplyDelete
  4. AnonymousDecember 4, 2012 at 6:52 AM

    This was a shock. A great loss for Northampton County courts.

    ReplyDelete
  5. CarolDecember 4, 2012 at 7:59 AM

    Morning Bernie, this is a shock to say the least, I didn't run into Gay very often, but when I did she always acknowledged me not with just an hello, but with my name.

    ReplyDelete
  6. JerryDecember 4, 2012 at 8:45 AM

    One of the finest individuals I have ever had the pleasure of knowing. Gay reported the news. She wasn't one of these reporters that attempted to create a story. If it was fact it was printed. Fair, concientious, intelligent, and dedicated are just some of the words that come to mind when I think of Gay. A smile that brightens any room with a great sense of humor to go with that smile. We will all miss Gay Elwell. She was a local treasure.

    ReplyDelete
  7. AlfonsoDecember 4, 2012 at 9:47 AM

    Your words definitely paint her as a GREAT woman. I am sure she will be missed.

    Alfonso Todd

    ReplyDelete
  8. AnonymousDecember 4, 2012 at 11:02 AM

    She was truly one of the good ones. What a terribly sad day and a tragic year for that family. RIP.

    ReplyDelete
  9. AnonymousDecember 4, 2012 at 12:31 PM

    Gay was a very nice person, real class. Please don't associate yourself with her.

    ReplyDelete
  10. AnonymousDecember 4, 2012 at 2:01 PM

    Very well said. Between this and the passing of Judge Garb, there have been two significant losses to the Northampton County bench.

    ReplyDelete
  11. AnonymousDecember 4, 2012 at 4:22 PM

    Very well said. She was a skilled professional and a lovely person.

    ReplyDelete
  12. AnonymousDecember 4, 2012 at 10:54 PM

    Very sweet, very kind words. Nice post.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Bernie O'HareDecember 4, 2012 at 10:57 PM

    She was a very sweet lady and I will miss her.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Denyse HollisDecember 5, 2012 at 12:11 AM

    I was very saddened to hear of this. I knew her both inside and outside the courtroom... she was taken from us far too soon.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Denyse HollisDecember 5, 2012 at 12:12 AM

    I was very saddened to hear of this. I knew her both inside and outside the courtroom... she was taken from us far too soon.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Bernie O'HareDecember 5, 2012 at 12:15 AM

    Yes, she was, Denyse. Thank you for your nice words.

    ReplyDelete
  17. BillDecember 5, 2012 at 5:16 AM

    I did not know her or Judge Garb, but I am sorry for your loss. They both sound like people who worked to make our world a better place.

    ReplyDelete
  18. cDecember 5, 2012 at 6:45 AM

    It is sad when good people go.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Bernie O'HareDecember 5, 2012 at 10:10 AM

    Bill, I only knew Judge Garb to say hi to him and as a litigant. I knew Gay very well.

    ReplyDelete
  20. P.J.CochranDecember 5, 2012 at 4:04 PM

    Bernie, Ashton 1-5 this Sat.Annex Bamk Street.We all liked her so much.

    ReplyDelete
  21. P.J.CochranDecember 5, 2012 at 4:53 PM

    Sorry mean to say- Bank Street Annex,Sunday after 1. I am still upset and do not use this thing.I wanted you to know however.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Bernie O'HareDecember 5, 2012 at 6:10 PM

    Sunday?

    ReplyDelete
  23. AnonymousDecember 5, 2012 at 9:27 PM

    A funeral service for Easton District Judge Gay Elwell will be held at 1 p.m. Sunday at the Bank Street Annex, 316 Northampton St., Easton.

    Calling hours will be 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday at Ashton Funeral Home, 1337 Northampton St., Easton. Burial will be private at Easton Cemetery.

    More information here: http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/easton/index.ssf/2012/12/gay_elwell_funeral_services_se.html#incart_river_default

    ReplyDelete
  24. Bernie O'HareDecember 5, 2012 at 10:08 PM

    Thanks for posting this.

    ReplyDelete

You own views are appreciated, especially if they differ from mine. But remember, commenting is a privilege, not a right. I will delete personal attacks or off-topic remarks at my discretion. Comments that play into the tribalism that has consumed this nation will be declined. So will comments alleging voter fraud unless backed up by concrete evidence. If you attack someone personally, I expect you to identify yourself. I will delete criticisms of my comment policy, vulgarities, cut-and-paste jobs from other sources and any suggestion of violence towards anyone. I will also delete sweeping generalizations about mainstream parties or ideologies, i.e. identity politics. My decisions on these matters are made on a case by case basis, and may be affected by my mood that day, my access to the blog at the time the comment was made or other information that isn’t readily apparent.