My name is Bruce. I am raising funds to pay for the cost of cremation, transportation, death certificates, and related bills in order to give my dear friend William David Emmert a proper funeral and memorial. Bill has been like family to me for 37 years. We started our friendship as neighbors in 1987. He was there for me during rough times. He died at the age of 88 years old, with me at his side, and acting as his legal representative at the hospital. He had no children or surviving relatives, except a niece, who returned my calls days after he passed. She is 79 and lives in Cincinnatti, and wants me to handle his funeral and estate.

On August 16, 2025, I received a call from my son that there were medics in Bill's apartment. I asked him to find out where they were taking Bill. I left work early and went straight to the Emergency Room. By the time I arrived, he had already been transferred to the ICU. Having been his medical POA for a past surgery, and being that he was not mentally able to communicate, the hospital recognized me as his next-of-kin.

Over the course of the week, I was there every day, talking to him and advising staff as to his wishes. He was unable to talk or squeeze my hand. But I felt he was still present, so I kept sharing stories and telling him about all of those who loved him and were thinking about him. As it became apparent that he would not ever be able to recover, I made the decision to change his status to do not resuscitate, and then to end life-sustaining efforts and make sure he was not in pain. It was one of the hardest things I have ever had to do. I arranged to bring a dear friend of his to the hospital the day before. I picked her up and brought her to see him, in hopes that he might become more alert. Instead, it helped give her closure, as she said goodbye to her lifelong friend. He died on August 22nd.

Bill was born in Cincinnati. He maintained friends throughout his life. They know what a kind, gentle, and caring person he was. He was incredibly intelligent. He built his own scuba gear from tanks he found when he was in his teens. He also built many telescopes, ordering mirrors and optics from astronomy catalogs. He was there when my son was born. He taught all of us and our children about Astronomy. Our children saw the moon up close and the rings of Saturn through his telescopes.

Bill served in the United States Army and then the Army Reserves. He received an honorable discharge, with his final release from the reserves in 1966. I have contacted the Los Angeles National Cemetery and begun the process for his funeral and final resting place. After consulting with his lifelong friends, it was decided that he would be cremated, given a military funeral, and inurned there.

His military benefits will cover his funeral and final resting place. I am seeking your help in raising funds for his transportation, cremation, an urn, death certificates, and for a memorial or celebration of life.