[nagdu] Fresno Bee article on Ed

[Ed and Toni Eames]

At 05:00 AM 10/28/2009, you wrote:
>The Monday online version of the Bee in the local section had a very 
>nice article on Ed by a Paula Lloyd. If you click on this link 
><http://www.fresnobee.com/local/story/1687807.html>http://www.fresnobee.com/local/story/1687807.html# 
>It has a nice picture of just him and Latrell sitting on the wall in 
>front of my house.  The article also appeared in the Tuesday, Oct. 
>27 print issue.  Below is the text.
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>>Eames fought for rights of disabled
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>>Published online on Monday, Oct. 26, 2009
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>>By Paula Lloyd / The Fresno Bee
>>Ed Eames, who lost his sight at age 42, spent the rest of his life 
>>advocating for the needs of people with disabilities.
>>Mr. Eames, 79, who died Sunday, worked to improve bus service for 
>>the disabled, founded an organization for people who use assistance 
>>dogs and lobbied for more sidewalks.
>>"He was a fighter, but he also was a thinker," said Fresno City 
>>Council Member Henry T. Perea. "He knew the issues, but he did his homework."
>>Perea represents the city's District 7, in which Mr. Eames lived.
>>"I'll never forget the first time I met Ed," Perea said. "I was 
>>campaigning door-to-door and he was one of the few people who 
>>invited me in. We sat around his kitchen table and talked issues 
>>for a good hour."
>>Sidewalks were a big issue to Mr. Eames, Perea said. He wanted to 
>>see sidewalks throughout Fresno, even in county islands, because 
>>they're easier for people who use wheelchairs to negotiate.
>>Mr. Eames and his wife, Toni, who also is blind, met while living 
>>in New York when he was writing a book to guide dog schools.
>>He invited her to be a co-author on the book. "And one thing led to 
>>another," she said. "He was my favorite topic" of conversation.
>>The couple came to Fresno in 1987 shortly after they married to 
>>team-teach a class at California State University, Fresno, on the 
>>sociology of disabilities. Mr. Eames was on sabbatical from Bernard 
>>M. Baruch College in New York City, but they fell in love with 
>>Fresno and retired here.
>>Mr. Eames became involved in improving services to the disabled. 
>>"He wanted a barrier-free Fresno," his wife said.
>>Mr. Eames founded and was president of the International 
>>Association of Assistance Dog Partners. A memorial page on the 
>>organization's Web site called him "one of our great champions."
>>He served on the Americans With Disabilities Act Advisory Committee 
>>for Fresno Area Express.
>>"He was a mentor and a great guy," said Paul Kwiatkowski, manager 
>>of Handy Ride, which provides transportation for disabled people.
>>"He certainly helped improve the lives of people with disabilities 
>>in Fresno," Kwiatkowski said. "The city is unfortunately going to miss him."
>>Mr. Eames inspired those who provide services to the disabled "to 
>>realize we impact the people who need us the most," Kwiatkowski 
>>said, and influence improvements to the Handy Ride system.
>>Mr. Eames was a member and past president of the North Fresno Lions 
>>Club, said Steve Wakefield, who drove Mr. Eames and his service 
>>dog, Latrell, to weekly meetings.
>>"He was such a great guy," Wakefield said. "I learned a lot about 
>>the lives of the disabled from him."
>>Mr. Eames was an example of one person making a difference. Perea 
>>recalled a demonstration Mr. Eames helped organize in which civic 
>>leaders spent several hours as if they were disabled.
>>"It was my job to navigate City Hall and downtown in a wheelchair," 
>>Perea said. "For me, it was a real eye-opener. He's done a lot for 
>>the people of Fresno."
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>>The reporter can be reached at 
>><mailto:plloyd at fresnobee.com>plloyd at fresnobee.com or (559) 441-6756.
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>>The article had a side bar with Ed's picture and below that this information
>>Ed Eames
>>Born: March 7, 1930
>>Died: Oct. 25, 2009
>>Occupation: Retired professor; author; advocate for the disabled.
>>Survivors: Wife, Toni; two daughters; eight grandchildren.
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>>The short obit/death notice was also published online. This is what 
>>they published
>>EAMES -- Ed Eames, Ph.D.,79, of Fresno died Sunday. He was a 
>>disability advocate and retired professor. Memorial services will 
>>be held on Dec. 12 at Unitarian Universalist Church. Remembrances: 
>>International Association of Assistance Dog Partners, 3376 N. 
>>Wishon Ave., Fresno, CA 93704.
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