Maryland is in mourning, with flags flying at half-staff and stories being told about the state's most memorable politician, William Donald Schaefer. For more than five decades, Schaefer served Maryland as governor, comptroller and mayor of Baltimore.
I heard about him before I got to The Sun in 1977. Some sort of miracle worker. Some sort of wacky, colorful galoot. Whatever, I thought . That was before I learned that "whatever" wouldn't cut it with William Donald Schaefer. You had to be on his team, know where the goal post was and offer a thought about how to get there.
Imagine that there is no M&T Bank Stadium. Imagine that there is no Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Imagine that there is no NFL team in Baltimore. The thrill and civic pride that engulfed Ravens' fan as the result of their Super Bowl victory last Sunday would belong to some other city, perhaps Cleveland or Jacksonville. That Joe Flacco, the MVP of the big game, was wearing a Baltimore Ravens jersey can be linked directly to a series of far-sighted and politically difficult decisions that were made years ago by a former mayor of Baltimore City, Gov. William Donald Schaefer.
Much has been written about William Donald Schaefer since his death Monday. Here are some stories and blog posts on Baltimore's former mayor and Maryland's former governor and comptroller that, if you haven't already seen, would be worth your time. Esquire Magazine has posted Richard Ben Cramer's classic profile of then Mayor Schaefer, published in October 1984. The magazine's editors say there were inspired to post the story online -- "in its entirety for the first time" -- after getting requests in the Twitterverse from various big-name political writers. Cramer's story is filled with vivid set pieces and insightful analysis of what drove the man. Among them: "You don't need a charming, wavy-haired talker for a mayor. You need the toughest, canniest, most obsessive sonofabitch in town...
The adjectives have flowed freely following the death of William Donald Schaefer: mercurial, demanding, indomitable, irascible, autocratic, quirky, impatient, impossible, insufferable, inspiring, extraordinary. Each is accurate and yet each is incomplete because each shows only one facet of an extraordinarily complex person. Even all of the adjectives combined don't paint a complete picture of the intensely private man who led an intensely public life for nearly a half- century, serving his city and state during 16 years on the Baltimore City Council, four terms as mayor and two terms each as governor and state comptroller.
William Donald Schaefer, the voluble and flamboyant former mayor and governor who towered over Maryland politics for four decades, died Monday night at his home at the Charlestown retirement community outside Baltimore. Mr. Schaefer was 89.
The city streets began to fill with mourners and those with signs saying "Thank you" and "Rest in Peace" one hour before the motorcade arrived in Baltimore from the State House in Annapolis. At Lexington Market, two tables held a pair of baskets decorated with delicate purple African violets, ribbons and a purple butterfly with a card of gratitude. The baskets were sitting on Paca Street at the entrance to the market awaiting the hearse.
I worked for Urban Services Agency out of his office all three years of high school (Patterson) and got to meet him then and stayed friends with him the last 35 years. I also was in charge of escorting him around (worked security detail) when he attended the Goodwill Thanksgiving Dinner every year. Missed him there last couple of years due to his health. I took pictures at his two inaugural parties for governor and he really enjoyed the album I made for him with many pictures of him and his lady friend Hilda Mae. He was heartbroken when she passed and went downhill ever since then. He was a true friend, honest politician and humanitarian. Willy Don, you will be missed! DONALD BLAIR JR.
William Donald Schaefer is a lucky man. He's lived to see himself lionized and loved in spite of his lapses.
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