I attended two funerals this week for lawyers, both good friends. Although they were almost a generation apart, the two men were similar in their stellar professionalism, work ethic, and generosity to other lawyers.

Bill Hines practiced for more than 20 years in Seattle as a federal criminal defense lawyer. Bill was smart and funny, and a passionate defender of civil rights and the Constitution. We were told that Bill was the first criminal defense lawyer to be memorialized at the Federal Courthouse, a tribute to his integrity and the respect the entire federal bar held for him, including prosecutors, judges, and court staff as well as fellow defense lawyers. I think my favorite image of the event was the bike messenger who came and mourned Bill's passing along with all the suits in the room. How like Bill, to develop a relationship with the bike messenger.

They don't make men like Bill Hines anymore. He grew up in rural Florida and worked in many different jobs over the years, including mechanic and boat electician. He could build or fix almost anything. He earned his doctorate ABD (all but dissertation) in political science. He went to law school to change the world, and change the world he did, not in the least for the hundreds of defendants he represented. He also quietly "adopted" an ever-expanding network of nieces, and was the best husband he could possibly be to the love of his life, Amy Hines. We will miss him terribly.

Willard Hatch was the dean of the Seattle bankruptcy lawyers for the last 50 years. Almost every bankruptcy attorney in Seattle has some connection to Willard. I am proud to be connected through my partner, Cynthia Kuno, who was Willard's last protege from 1992-1997 when we started Crocker Kuno. Willard consulted with Crocker Kuno after he retired from Foster Pepper for several months, before he decided to give up his license, and he and I worked on a case together, representing a debtor in a workout. At Crocker Kuno and Resolve Legal, we aspire to re-create the Hatch & Leslie of old -- a true Seattle bankruptcy boutique and a family, too.

Willard's family generously shared their memories of their father (and their struggles with him) with us in a very moving memorial service. I was surprised to hear of his shortcomings as a father, particularly since I have known him primarily through the devoted eyes of the lawyers who ardently admired him. Where at home he may have been remote and cantankerous, at work he was supportive and cantankerous. He was famous for his brevity, known for answering the phone last name only with no other greeting -- "Hatch!" I got to know him in the last decade of his life, when he had softened considerably, but he was still taciturn, never one to waste words.

Although I doubt they ever met, Willard and Bill shared a passion for justice and civil rights, for liberal causes, for craftsmanship and the Northwest, and for the profession of Law. In addition, they each passionately loved their wives, Bill for almost 25 years, and Willard for almost 50 until Ginger passed away some years ago. When men like these leave us, it is our obligation to remember them and to sustain the values they taught us -- to pass those values on to the next generation of lawyers. May their memories be a blessing to us.

Labels: Personal, professionalism