War veteran, photographer and guitarist, Eisan valued independence
Hamilton war veteran William Ernest Eisan was as independent as they come.
The 98-year-old, who served in the Second World War and Korean War, lived alone in his Stoney Creek apartment.
He looked after his own meals, drove himself around and only sought help with housekeeping once or twice a month in recent years.
“Most of the time, he wanted things done his way and that was it,” said Eisan’s son, Bill, 71.
The Cape Breton native died after a two-vehicle crash near Nebo and Twenty roads on Jan. 11.
Eisan and an 18-year-old woman were taken to hospital with what were believed to be non-life-threatening injuries at the time, but he later succumbed to them, police said.
As a longstanding member of the Royal Canadian Legion, Eisan served as sergeant-at-arms, a service officer and colour party commander at local Remembrance Day services over the years, according to the Veterans Affairs Canada website.
Son Bill said his dad was involved for close to 60 years with Legion Branch 58 on Barton Street East, across from The Centre on Barton, where he would diligently help with the poppy campaign.
Eisan was shipped to Hamilton for training as a military engineer, where he met his future wife, Helen. They married before he headed overseas in 1943. Helen died in 2001.
After returning home from Korea, Eisan joined the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 105 and worked as an electrician until he retired at 65, said Bill.
While most of his spare time was spent working with the legion and promoting the achievements of Canadian veterans and members of the Canadian Armed Forces, Eisan also played guitar and even dabbled with the piano.
Bill said he mostly played “down East music.” Eisan previously told The Spectator he used to croon Bing Crosby numbers for fellow troops while overseas.
He continued to play up until about a year ago, when he became too weak, Bill said.
He may have become frailer in his later years, but that didn’t stop Eisan from living his life, his son added.
Every now and then, Eisan would drop in to a Chinese restaurant to enjoy his favourite dish, Yat Gaw Mein, and he still made sure to drink his cup of green tea with every meal, Bill said.
“He still got it done; he just did it slower.”
It’s believed Eisan was on his way to Mount Hope — either to the 447 Wing of the Royal Canadian Air Force Association, to which he belonged, or to the airport to take pictures — at the time of the crash, Bill said.
Capturing photos of airplanes had been his hobby for years, Bill said, adding his dad started with film and eventually transitioned to digital.
The investigation into the crash is ongoing, police said. Charges are not expected to be laid, they added.
This is the second fatal collision in Hamilton in 2017.
Eisan also leaves behind two daughters.