Member of NJ's Third Oldest Law Firm Dies

Blaine Emerson Capehart, of Moorestown, a member of the third oldest law firm in the state, died Saturday, June 23, at the age of 104.  

He was predeceased by his wife, Elinore Hall Capehart, who died in 1999. He is survived by his two daughters, Stacy H. Capehart of Burlington Township, and Gretchen C. DeCou (Richard) of Moorestown. He adored his six grandsons: Blaine R. Bevis (Susanne) of Düsseldorf, Germany; Daniel C. Bevis of Conshohocken, PA; Joseph C. Bevis (Veronica) of Burlington Township; David C. DeCou of Richmond, VA; Christopher C. DeCou of Mechanicsville, VA; and Miller C. DeCou of Riverton. He has five great granddaughters.

Capehart was a member of the 135-year-old Capehart Scatchard law firm. After graduating from Dickinson College, he attended Harvard Law School and completed his law degree in 1934 at Temple University Law School, attending night classes during the Great Depression. On October 1, 1930, he clerked for the law firm of French, Richards & Bradley, which he later joined, and which later became Capehart Scatchard. Capehart continued to practice law well into his 90s and went to the office until after his 100th birthday, when he stopped driving. During his 80 years with the firm, it grew from four lawyers to more than 70.

During his legal career, Capehart was a member of the American College of Trial Lawyers, the National Association of Railroad Trial Council, the American Bar Foundation and the American, New Jersey, Burlington County and Camden County Bar Associations. His individual practice included litigation, railroad, labor law, worker’s compensation, real estate, corporation’s estates and trusts. Currently, attorneys tend to specialize in only one area of the law. He served on the New Jersey Supreme Court Advisory Committee for Professional Ethics from 1973 to 1993 and was named Professional Lawyer of the Year in 2002.

Capehart was born in Philadelphia and moved to Pennsauken when he was 8. After his marriage, he lived in Riverton, until moving to Moorestown in 1969. He was a devoted golfer and a member of the Riverton Country Club, the , and the Pine Valley Golf Club. He continued to play golf into his 90s. He loved to travel and loved raising flowers, especially amaryllises. The time he spent with his gang of grandsons was most special to him.

A memorial service will be held at 2:30 p.m. Thursday at the in Moorestown. A private interment will be held at Springfield Cemetery in Springfield, NJ.

Memorial contributions can be made to First United Methodist Church or Lighthouse Hospice, 1040 N. Kings Highway, Suite 100, Cherry Hill, NJ 08034. Arrangements by . Condolences may be left at www.lewisfuneralhomemoorestown.com.

- Provided by Lewis Funeral Home