William Street
January 13, 1946 - January 04, 2015
Obituary
Street, William T.Saginaw, Michiganpassed away January 4, 2015. William was born in New York City on January 13, 1946 to the late Harold and Gertrude Street and was raised in Muskegon, Michigan. After graduating Muskegon High School, he attended the University of Michigan for his undergraduate degree, where he was a member of the University of Michigan Marching Band. He was a Vietnam era veteran of the U.S. Army and became a committed antiwar activist. He graduated from the University of Michigan Law School and was admitted to the Michigan state bar in 1975. He moved to Saginaw after law school to join Legal Services of Eastern Michigan. In 1978, he was the local campaign head for Carl Levin's initial run for the US Senate. Then he began practicing with Barbara A. Klimaszewski in the firm of Klimaszewski & Street, which continued until his death. He was the son of a former FBI agent, but specialized in criminal defense and civil rights advocacy. He represented the poor and unpopular and was always willing to speak out on behalf of the underrepresented. William was an avid trout fisherman. He played and enjoyed music all of his life, starting with the clarinet and saxophone, eventually falling in love with the xaphoon. He was an outspoken feminist. He loved sports, especially the Detroit Tigers and University of Michigan football and basketball teams. His wit and eloquence will be greatly missed. William leaves his sister Susan Callahan and her children; Michael and Christine Callahan, Jennifer and Kenneth Bagwell and 5 grand nieces and nephews; his colleagues Barbara A. Klimaszewski and Kathy A. Lloyd of Saginaw and close friend Joyce VanOchten of Ann Arbor. A memorial gathering for William will be held at the McIntyre Funeral Chapel, 504 N. Michigan on Friday from 4-8pm, with a remembrance service at 7pm. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Underground Railroad or to the ACLU of Michigan.
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Memories
DW
Dorothy Hart Wilson
Friend •
Bill Street was one of the best attorneys in Michigan. When I was young and in college i did something dumb. Bill Street not only saved me, but also over one hundred other persons who also did something dumb. What happened was a prosecutor in a college town went after marijuana violations. It was his operation. Then the prosecutor became the judge overseeing the cases. Mr. Street challenged this and had the judge removed. He had a new judge brought in from Mt. Pleasant MI where they were less strick. Mr. Street saved me from a hanging judge with his efforts and over a hundred other students who were in the boat with me. I will always be thankful for his help. It is sad to know he is gone. He had a sparkle, a lively personality, a love for life.
CM
curt sumera of Saginaw Michigan
Other •
God will love yer humor mncj
DM
Deborah Blanks of Saginaw, MI
Other •
Thanks for your professionalism.
LD
Lorri Dvoracsek
Other •
I am so sorry to hear of Bill's death. He was a good man and a real champion of the justice community. RIP Bill.
AM
Andrew Tierman of Saginaw, MI
Other •
I was fortunate to have been a friend of Bill Street and a former colleague of his at L.S.E.M, and to have benefited from his wisdom as well as enjoying his literary wit and eloquence. I looked forward to the serendipitous encounters we had, rarely, over recent years, in which he would inevitably launch into enthusiastic analyses of current situations, or poignant tales of cultural conflict.Bill was exceptional in his moral dedication to principle – specifically, to democratic values: freedom of speech, civil and political rights, protection of minorities under the law, and equality before the law. He loved the good fight, finding his true profession in the law, and exemplified the lawyer’s ethical oath, at its best, serving the public in a republic governed by law.I am deeply sorry to hear of his death, at 68, a few months older than myself, and restrain my tears to compose this remembrance. I had still looked forward to more of those chance encounters, and to knowing that Bill Street was at large, brilliantly vigilant for justice and the rights of the underdog. Andrew Tierman, joined by Joan Sabourin
RS
Robert Spratt of 2899 W. 136th Street
Other •
I will really miss you Bill. we have remained Best Friends through grade school and to recent. We spent many an hour playing as kids and numerous school activities. I will always remember the Lake dances Y dances and school dances we went to look for girls. At this moment memories of our friendship are flooding my mind. If there were words to express what you have meant to my life there would not be enough paper or computers to contain then. Suffice to say i love you brother and hope to somehow see you again in glory.