Delco re:View Winter 2018 - 26

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Friendship is the Warmest Sunshine

continued from page 25

THE HONORABLE WILLIAM R. TOAL, JR.
MEMORIAL RESOLUTION COMMITTEE
Stephen J. McEwen, Jr., Chairman
William R. Toal, III
John A. Toal
Robert B. Toal
John H. Toal
Lewis B. Beatty, Jr.
Hon. Michael F.X. Coll
Hon. Joseph P. Cronin, Jr.
Robert E.J. Curran
Harry F. Dunn, Jr.
Hon. Murray S. Eckell
Hon. Kevin F. Kelly
Hon. Robert F. Kelly
Hon. Chad F. Kenney
Donald W. Lehrkinder, Sr.
Nicholas S. Lippincott
Michael J. Malloy
Michael L. Murphy
Theresa Flanagan Murtagh
Vram Nedurian, Jr.
Raymond J. Peppelman, Jr.
John A. Prodoehl, Jr.
Andrew J. Reilly
John A. Reilly, Jr.
Maura Kelly Rogers
Douglas L. Smith
G. Guy Smith
W. Donald Sparks
Jackson M. Stewart
Harry F. Spiess, Jr.
Hon. R. Barclay Surrick
Richard C. Tinucci

NUSRAT J. RASHID
Attorney-at-Law

Office: (610) 447-0441
Fax: (484) 840-5533
Email: nrashid@rashidlaw.net
Website: www.rashidlaw.net
419 Avenue of the States, Suite 406, Chester, PA 19013

26 | Winter 2018

small Borough Hall, it happened that the safe was slammed shut by
her own deputy, four-year old Bill Toal III, now the distinguished
appellate advocate in the District Attorney's office. The tiny
Borough had no employees, but happily the single police officer on
duty eventually returned to the Borough Hall and rescued her from
disaster.
Bill had a number of characteristics for which many of his
friends and colleagues envied him, certainly at least to the degree
he displayed them. He was always on the side of the angels,
whatever their gender or color, and he blessed those who were,
compassionate, generous, and gentle - and even, those who would
have been had they not been so long deprived. Patience and
watchfulness were always joined with careful consideration before
he judged - and isn't that a basic requirement for those who render
judgment.
Admired for his soft, almost shy, manner, saluted for his gentle,
tolerant spirit, fair almost to a fault - and always understanding
- he never allowed the stress of the moment to turn him from a
disciplined and informed sense of what was right. He was truly a
man of integrity, dignity, grace, kindness, and stylish sublimity.
Mike Murphy, the first law clerk for Judge Toal, has stated that
the clerkship was a most enjoyable and enlightening experience.
Mike also tells of the practice of Judge Toal of permitting, whenever
possible, Themis, the Goddess of Justice, a peek from beneath her
blindfold, by rulings that found equity and fairness trumping both
the commands of statutes and the demands of stare decisis.
Hope for the future is an inherent part of the reflection which
attends a ceremony of eulogy. Quite surely our hope for the future
relies upon a trust that Providence will provide individuals of
strength of character and integrity and wisdom to lead our judiciary
through the quagmire of social crisis - just such individuals as
President Judge Bill Toal, whose insight and force of character
was a guiding beacon for our Delaware County Court of Common
Pleas, as Judge for almost four decades, from 1974 through 2010,
including five years as President Judge from 1990 to 1995.
Through his final years, Bill rose above health challenges which
persistently pursued him, . . . but he never engaged in self-pity or
whined, because he was blessed with a spirit which soared above
setback . . .but let it be clear that this great personal strength,
this deep resolve, all flowed from the rarest, mighty, strength of
character. It was of just such resolute individuals that President
Theodore Roosevelt observed;
While the applause and recognition accorded the enlightened
fades quite quickly, the rich respect accorded the resolute is as
marble. Literature and history lesson the need to be steadfast, for
while the clever inspire respect, the steadfast are inspiration.
And surely, Bill was every bit of that.
In conclusion, we can certainly say about Bill that: He lived life.
He lived the law. He lives in his family. He lives in his friends.
Heaven does not ask for more. And so he is within that Kingdom.
Bill, we thank you . . . We thank you for all of it . . .
We certainly miss you.
And, oh, yeah, Bill, one more thing - a favor, if you can . . .
Save some space close to you for us . . . 'Cause we will be seeing
you soon. *
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