Bill Haast

The Herald today reported that my former client, Bill Haast, passed away.

I got to know Nancy and Bill Haast on a legal matter I helped them with a few years ago. As a result, I had the good fortune to meet Bill a few times. I told him that I distinctly remembered seeing the Miami Serpentarium from the road as a child and I then had the opportunity to ask him a few questions about his many, many years dealing with snakes in the wild.

He related to me a story how, in Africa, he sought to capture a poisonous snake. Apparently, the snake climbed up a tree and into its trunk through a hole. Bill told me that he reached into the tree trunk with his arm even though he couldn’t see what he was doing. Fortunately, the snake didn’t bite him but he quickly quipped that it was not one of the smartest things he ever did. Bill clearly had a good sense of humor.

I was also lucky enough to get to know Nancy, his wife, very well. She is a wonderful person. On a personal level, and on behalf of the firm, I offer Nancy and the rest of the Haast family our sincerest condolences.