Ed Moorman

George "Ed" Moorman - Anglophile, Cardinals fan and a pillar of the Metro East legal community for more than half a century -- passed away June 28, at age 85.

Born and raised in Edwardsville, Ed was the son of George L. Moorman, Jr. and Dorothy Hoover Moorman. After attending local public schools, he earned his B.A. at Yale and then his law degree from the University of Chicago. Beginning his law career as a public defender, he served next as an Associate Circuit Judge in Madison County but abandoned that experiment after only six months when he found himself bored beyond his endurance. He then joined a small firm in East Alton, the first of many in which he practiced. He was still active, as a solo practitioner, at the time of his death.

A man of great intellect -- he was known for his encyclopedic knowledge and photographic memory - Ed was a generalist as a lawyer and a man of diverse interests outside the field. A fervent Cardinals fan, he taught a course about the team at the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute. He also took numerous classes at Osher in writing, particularly in poetry and theater; a play he wrote featured Sherlock Holmes and T. S. Eliot as characters. A lover of language in general, he was also a gifted raconteur. Travel was another passion; he especially enjoyed the British Isles, which he visited yearly.

And he loved the law and justice. One of his prouder moments was his role in teaming with the Innocence Project to help a man who had been sentenced to 60 years in prison for rape prove his innocence and win his freedom after 21 years.

Surviving are his partner, Lydia Ann Long; a daughter, Rebecca Moorman, of Anchorage, Alaska; a son, Michael Moorman, also of Anchorage; a brother, Bill Moorman, of Kansas City; a sister, Patricia Moss, of New Hampshire; two nephews, Mark Streuber, of Springfield, Mo., and Matt Streuber, of St. Louis County; and a brother-in-law, also named Mark Streuber (Renee), of St. Louis County. He was predeceased by his wife, Susan B. Moorman, and his parents.

A memorial service will be held in the fall. Donations welcome to Osher Lifelong Learning (9 North Jackson, Clayton MO 63105) and Forest Park Forever (5595 Grand Drive, St. Louis MO 63112).