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Politicians, friends, family pay final tribute to Saxbe

Hundreds attend a memorial service at the high school in Mechanicsburg.

Ohio Governor Ted Strickland was on hand for the William Saxbe memorial service Sunday, Sept. 5 at Mechanicsburg High School. Staff photo by Bill Lackey

Bill Lackey Ohio Governor Ted Strickland was on hand for the William Saxbe memorial service Sunday, Sept. 5 at Mechanicsburg High School. Staff photo by Bill Lackey

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A portrait of William Saxbe, former Attorney General, Senator and Ambassador to India, seems to watch as Ohio Army National Guardsmen fold his memorial flag Sunday, Sept. 5, during a tribute at Mechanicsburg High School. Saxbe, 94, passed away Aug. 24 at his Mechanicsburg home. Dignitaries in attendance included former U.S. Representative Dave Hobson, former Senator Mike DeWine and Gov. Ted Strickland. Staff photos by Bill Lackey »View photos from the event at SpringfieldNewsSun.com.

Bill Lackey A portrait of William Saxbe, former Attorney General, Senator and Ambassador to India, seems to watch as Ohio Army National Guardsmen fold his memorial flag Sunday, Sept. 5, during a tribute at Mechanicsburg High School. Saxbe, 94, passed away Aug. 24 at his Mechanicsburg home. Dignitaries in attendance included former U.S. Representative Dave Hobson, former Senator Mike DeWine and Gov. Ted Strickland. Staff photos by Bill Lackey »View photos from the event at SpringfieldNewsSun.com.

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By Kelly Mori, Staff Writer Updated 9:07 AM Tuesday, September 7, 2010

MECHANICSBURG — William B. Saxbe left no unfinished business when he died in his Mechanicsburg home on Aug. 24, his son, William Saxbe Jr., said during a memorial service Sunday, Sept. 5, at Mechanicsburg High School.

“That’s the way to go,” William Saxbe Jr. said.

According to family and friends, the former U.S. Sen. and U.S. Attorney General also mastered the way to live — enjoying every moment of the 94 years that took him from rural Ohio, to Washington D.C., to India and back.

“He had a great long life. He had a lot of fun,” William Saxbe Jr. said. “And like the highest tribute they can give you in preschool: ‘He played well with others.’ ”

As a politician Mr. Saxbe had opponents, but no enemies, his son said.

“Most of the people who considered him an enemy ended up either in jail or pardoned,” William Saxbe Jr. said as attendees laughed at his reference to the Watergate scandal.

The memorial service, attended by government officials past and present, as well as hundreds of Mr. Saxbe’s Mechanicsburg neighbors and friends included his favorite Dixieland jazz, a recording of Bing Crosby singing a song he wrote about a fishing trip the two friends went on together and a recording of Mr. Saxbe singing his favorite song “Ace in the Hole,” during an impromptu performance at a Columbus event.

Mr. Saxbe’s former assistant U.S. attorney general, Vincent Rakestraw, his former chief counsel as Ohio attorney general, Judge Robert Duncan, and his former assistant Ohio attorney general, Ohio Supreme Court Justice Paul Pfeifer, shared their memories. His family read excerpts from his books and shared memories of their father and grandfather.

Saxbe’s wife of nearly 70 years, Dolly, did not speak at the ceremony, but dozens of smiling pictures of the couple projected onto a screen told their own story about a long, happy life together.

Sarah Saxbe closed the ceremony with an excerpt from her grandfather’s autobiography.

“So here I am at age 84 ... still surrounded by good friends and a loving and successful family, all of whom shaped my destiny.

“Would I change anything? I doubt it. ... I thank God for the interesting and exciting life Dolly and I have shared together...”

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