Charles C. Keller Retires at 94 - Peacock Keller
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
A Quarterly Publication of Peacock Keller & Ecker, LLP
Winter 2018
Charles C. Keller Retires at 94
T he halls of Peacock Keller have a different feel
these days. In July of 2017, Charles C. Keller, one
of the founding partners of Peacock Keller & Ecker,
In World War II, Mr. Keller served as a B-17
bomber pilot. He flew 35 missions over Western
Europe and describes them with such detail that you
LLP, retired after more than 65 years of legal practice. feel as if you were in the plane with him. Luckily, Mr.
At 94 years old, many of us would enjoy retirement Keller and his crew were able to withstand a direct hit
and days that no longer consisted of the 9 to 5 grind, from German flack on one of those 35 missions,
but not Mr. Keller. Mr. Keller came to the office every allowing him to return safely to Western
single day, until his retirement, and Pennsylvania.
greeted everyone with his signature grin
and boisterous "Good Morning." To refer After the war, Mr. Keller attended the
to Mr. Keller as a retired attorney would University of Pittsburgh School of Law.
do a disservice to him and the community Upon graduation, Mr. Keller joined his
he cherished and served. local Rotary club in 1950 and it was during
one of those early Rotary meetings that he
Mr. Keller grew up in California PA, a would meet his future law partner, Ralph
community along the Monongahela River Peacock. Mr. Keller’s commitment to Rotary
that to this day remains near and dear to would shape the man we all know today.
his heart. His father was an English Mr. Keller served in a variety of offices,
professor at the local university, now Charles C. Keller from president of the local California PA
known as California University of Rotary club to President of Rotary
Pennsylvania, from which Mr. Keller graduated with International. Under his presidency, Mr. Keller’s
bachelors degrees in English, Social Science and vision for Rotary was "United in Service - Dedicated
Geography. While in school, Mr. Keller received the to Peace."
Distinguished Service Award for his involvement
in an array of clubs and activities on campus. This Mr. Keller and his first wife, Mary Lou, built a
award would serve as the cornerstone of Mr. Keller’s family as he pursued his legal career. In all, Mr.
philanthropic future. Keller and Mary Lou would have four children.
continued on page 2
Charles C. Keller Retires at 94 1
INSIDE THIS ISSUE The Cost of Skilled Nursing Care in Pennsylvania 2
Updates to the Pennsylvania Notary Law 3
Peacock Keller In The News 3
PeacockKeller.com Case Notes 4
70 East Beau St. · Washington, PA 15301 · (724) 222-4520
continued from page 1
After many years of marriage, Mary Lou passed away suddenly and unexpectedly. If you have had the
opportunity to speak with Mr. Keller, you have more than likely heard him say that he has been lucky
enough to have two great loves in his life. A decade after Mary Lou passed, Mr. Keller would fall in love
and marry his second wife, Carol. Together, Mr. Keller and Carol continue to make the most out of life,
cherishing each other and the time they have, particularly by celebrating their anniversary on a monthly
basis.
Throughout Western Pennsylvania, Mr. Keller’s civic, legal and Rotarian
accomplishments abound. An Eagle Scout himself, Mr. Keller spent decades
deeply involved in the Boy Scouts of America. He has served on innumerable
hospital, health care, government and civic boards and in 2006, the
Washington County Community Foundation named him Philanthropist of the
Year. The Foundation also annually recognizes local for-profit businesses with
the Charles C. Keller Corporate Philanthropy Award, in honor of his exemplary
giving and community service. Mr. Keller has always lived by the philosophy of
giving 100% of himself to any organization in which he is involved, be it a non-profit board, the legal
community or the military, with three simple words, "service above self."
When each new person joined Peacock Keller, Mr. Keller served as the unofficial welcome wagon. He would
explain that the office was never short on food and that cookouts and pot-luck lunches were commonplace.
He also informed new employees that at the firm holiday party, they were expected to stand and sing
selected holiday songs. Lucky for them, Mr, Keller’s amazing singing voice, perfected by years of
singing hymns in church, would prevail, so the embarrassment was minimal.
May we all have lives as full, and as fulfilling, as Mr. Keller has had. ●
The Cost of
Skilled Nursing Care in Pennsylvania
By: Eva H. Ahern
$ 321.95. This is the average
daily cost of skilled nursing
care in Pennsylvania as
long-term skilled nursing care.
Medicaid does not cover the cost
of assisted living care. In
and what planning options are
available to you, we recommend
that you consult with an attorney
calculated by the Department of Pennsylvania, Medicaid is known who specializes in elder law. The
Human Services. This makes the as Medical Assistance, and is attorneys at Peacock Keller &
average annual cost of a skilled managed by the Pennsylvania Ecker can assist you in what is
nursing facility $117,511.75! Department of Human Services. often a stressful and confusing
According to the Pennsylvania Medicaid is a means-tested time. ●
Health Care Association, the entitlement program. This means
average stay in a nursing home that before you qualify for
is approximately three years. As Medical Assistance, you must not
you can see, the assets you have only be "medically needy," you
worked so hard to accumulate must also be income and asset
may rapidly dwindle should you eligible.
or a loved one require long-term
skilled nursing care. Despite the substantial cost of
skilled nursing care, there may be
Medicaid is a federal program some asset protection available to
administered by each state, that you and your family. To better
may assist with the expense of understand the Medicaid rules Eva H. Ahern
Winter 2018 · Page 2 PeacockKeller.com
Updates to the Pennsylvania Notary Law
Infamiliar
October of 2017, the Revised Uniform Law on Notarial Act (RULONA) became effective and some of the
procedures associated with signing legal documents were changed.
Previously, a person was not always required to provide identification when having his/her signature notarized.
Now, a current, valid, government issued form of identification with a photograph must be presented. Examples
include a driver's license, a photo identification card issue by the DMV, a passport, a military identification card
or a permanent resident card.
As in the past, notaries are required to maintain a Notary Journal. The new journal, however, requires more
information than before, including the name and address of the signer, as well as the type of identification
provided by the signer.
With these additional changes and requirements to this Act, Peacock Keller Notaries have been
thoroughly educated on the new changes and have completed the required notary education course. ●
Peacock Keller In The News
P eacock Keller was voted “Best of the Best” Law Firm in the Observer
Reporter’s Inaugural People’s Choice Award. Close to 500 local businesses
over a multitude of categories were nominated from which the first place award
winners were selected by voters in the Washington County community. Peacock
Keller is pleased to have been selected First Place in the Law Firm category. It is a
an honor to be a recognized firm among the many wonderful businesses that help
make Washington County a great place to work and live. ●
●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●
O n Oct. 20, 2017 the Washington County Bar
Association celebrated its 125th Anniversary with
a Charity Gala at the Washington County Courthouse.
produced and special activities such as a U.S.
Supreme Court admission and a local naturalization
ceremony were held.
The event also served as the
launch for a three-year “Raise The gala was attended by 480 members of the Bar
the Bar” fundraising campaign Association and their guests, community leaders and
for the Washington County Bar members of the judiciary. Nearly every living
Foundation. former Bar Association
president attended to pass the
As chairperson for the event, gavel from most senior past
Peacock Keller partner Susan president, Charles C. Keller,
Key spent 18 months with her down the years to the current
committee planning every president, Stephanie M. Sewak,
detail, for which she earned a and then to incoming 2018
Certificate of Meritorious Service at its Winter president, Susan M. Key. ●
Bench-Bar on Jan. 19, 2018. As part of the year-long
anniversary, a hardbound book, Revisiting the Bench
and Bar of Pennsylvania’s Washington County, was
Susan M. Key
PeacockKeller.com Winter 2018 · Page 3
Case Notes
A Middletown Ohio man was charged with arson and insurance fraud Partners
based, in part, on data on his pacemaker which was inconsistent with his
claim about his physical activities when his house burned down. Roger J. Ecker
Richard J. Amrhein
●●● Barbara A. Graham
The Pennsylvania Superior Court ruled that a child can intervene in a
Douglas R. Nolin
parent's marital settlement agreement to enforce a provision which Jonathan G. Higie
requires a parent to pay college expenses. John A. Rodgers
Susan T. Roberts
●●●
Susan Mondik Key
A man was charged with murder of his wife in part because his account of Andrew S. Chumney
events did not jive with his wife's Facebook posting and the data from her Stephen P. Curry
FitBit activity tracker.
Rachel K. Lozosky
●●● Donald B. Formoso
◊
According to an account in the Miami Herald, a defense attorney's pants Associates
caught on fire due to a defective battery in an e-cigarette during his
closing argument before the jury. Ironically the jury convicted his client Eva H. Ahern
of arson in the second degree. Daniel P. Gustine
●●● Thomas A. Steele
Janine E. Smith
The Pennsylvania Superior Court ruled that a waiver of claims signed by Aaron W. Smith
a patron of a fitness center for injuries did not violate public policy. ◊
Senior Counsel
Wesley A. Cramer
Peacock Tales is published quarterly for the information of our clients and friends. The Editorial Group is composed of
Stephen P. Curry, editor, John A. Rodgers and Barbara A. Graham, co-editors, and Kate McCoy, Marketing Director.
Articles are carefully researched, but are not intended as legal advice or as a substitute for legal counsel. Inquiries
concerning articles or requests for inclusion on our complimentary mailing list should be addressed to your
Peacock Keller attorney or to the Editorial Group at:
70 East Beau Street • Washington, PA 15301 • 724-222-4520
Bridgeville · Claysville · McMurray · Waynesburg
You can also read
