The Passing of Del. Page Elmore

Pallbearers carry the casket from Bethesda United Methodist Church following the funeral service for Delegate D. Page Elmore, R-38A-Wicomico, on Wednesday. Elmore died Saturday after a battle against cancer.

SALISBURY -- Delegate Page Elmore was remembered by friends and colleagues as someone who was able to reach across party lines and who helped bring about important changes to two local universities.

But it was his devotion to his Eastern Shore constituents that was mentioned most by those who delivered eulogies at his funeral Wednesday.

"The more I got to know Page, the more I respected him," said Sen. J. Lowell Stoltzfus, R-38-Somerset, who also sang during the service at Bethesda United Methodist Church in Salisbury's Newtown neighborhood.

Stoltzfus said it was not unusual to find Elmore eating breakfast with watermen at 5 a.m. at Gordon's Confectionery in Crisfield.

"He never succumbed to self-importance," he said.

House Speaker Michael Busch, a Democrat from Anne Arundel County, called Elmore "a unique individual."

When Elmore introduced a bill to make the Smith Island cake the official state dessert during the 2008 session of the Maryland General Assembly, he left cake outside Busch's office every morning until the bill passed.

"For Page, it wasn't just about cake, it was about pride of the community," Busch said.

While Elmore brought a conservative philosophy to the Legislature, he also had the ability to reach across the aisle, Busch said.

"It is with great sadness that I am here today," he said.

In addition to Busch and Stoltzfus, other members of the House and Senate attended the service, including Delegate Anthony J. O'Donnell, minority leader of the House, from Southern Maryland.

Busch presented a proclamation from the House of Delegates to Elmore's family, and Delegate Adelaide C. Eckardt, R-37B, presented one from the Eastern Shore Delegation, of which Elmore was chairman.

Janet Dudley Eshbach, president of Salisbury University, and Thelma Thompson, president of the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, also spoke during the funeral of Elmore's devotion to both campuses.

At UMES, Elmore helped get an undergraduate engineering program and a doctoral program in pharmacy.

"He fought hard for us," Thompson said.

More personal recollections of Elmore were delivered by longtime friend Jon Poulson and his brother-in-law, the Rev. Dr. Walter C. Jackson III.

In addition to a crowd of family, friends and government officials from Somerset and Wicomico counties who packed the church for Wednesday morning's funeral service, 500-600 people -- including Gov. Martin O'Malley -- paid their respects Tuesday at Holloway Funeral Home PA in Salisbury.

Elmore, 71, died Saturday following a battle with recurring cancer. He represented District 38A, an area covering Somerset and southern Wicomico counties.

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