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.