For information on submitting an obituary, please contact Reading Eagle by phone at 610-371-5018, or email at obituaries@readingeagle.com or fax at 610-371-5193.
Most obituaries published in the Reading Eagle are submitted through funeral homes and cremation services, but we will accept submissions from families. Obituaries can be emailed to obituaries@readingeagle.com.
In addition to the text of the obituary, any photographs that you wish to include can be attached to this email. Please put the text of the obituary in a Word document, a Google document or in the body of the email. The Reading Eagle also requires a way to verify the death, so please include either the phone number of the funeral home or cremation service that is in charge of the deceased’s care or a photo of his/her death certificate. We also request that your full name, phone number and address are all included in this email.
All payments by families must be made with a credit card. We will send a proof of the completed obituary before we require payment. The obituary cannot run, however, until we receive payment in full.
Obituaries can be submitted for any future date, but they must be received no later than 3:00 p.m. the day prior to its running for it to be published.
Please call the obituary desk, at 610-371-5018, for information on pricing.
After 10 years leading the Lancaster-based law firm of Saxton & Stump, founding CEO James Saxton has announced he will step down as CEO at the end of the year. He will serve as chairman during 2026 — continuing to work on the firm’s strategic initiatives.
Thomas J. Kent Jr. will step into the CEO role beginning Jan. 1.
Kent was elected CEO with unanimous support from the management team and the firm’s shareholders, according to a press release announcing the leadership change.
Kent is the co-chairman of Saxton & Stump’s Franchising, Licensing and Distribution group and has served on the Finance, Operations and Pension committees. He brings experience as a business lawyer and adviser to clients and has worked at some of the nation’s largest law firms, according to the release.
“Over the past several years, Tom and I have worked closely together, and I have tremendous trust in his ability to carry our momentum forward and position the firm for long-term success,” Saxton said in a statement. “I have no doubt Tom, together with our leadership team, will ensure the collaborative culture we have built continues to thrive as we expand into the future.”
Saxton & Stump’s leadership transition follows more than 18 months of planning by the firm’s management to “ensure stability, preserve Saxton & Stump’s culture and position the firm for continued growth.”
“This transition has been planned with great care to preserve the qualities that have made Saxton & Stump unique,” Kent said in a statement. “I’m honored to help lead us into this next era and excited to continue building a firm that delivers a refreshingly different experience for our clients and opportunities for our team.”
Saxton and Christopher A. Stump founded the firm in 2015 after they left the Reading-based law firm Stevens & Lee along with several colleagues.
In the past 10 years, Saxton & Stump has grown from 14 attorneys to more than 150 along with eight affiliate companies. It expanded to 10 offices with more than 300 professionals.
As part of its expansion, Saxton & Stump is preparing to open a new office in downtown Pittsburgh in the Union Trust Building. The firm has been operating from temporary offices in Pittsburgh since April while planning for the permanent location. The office is expected to open in October once final interior improvements are complete, the company said in a release.
Saxton described the new office as more than a location decision.
“It’s a statement of stability and partnership. This building reflects the character and vision of our firm and the caliber of talent we’re attracting — rooted in tradition, driven by innovation, and built for the future,” he said in a statement. Saxton is originally from Allegheny County and is a graduate of Duquesne Law School.
The 12,000-square-foot office space is designed for growth, with the firm projecting to double its head count in Pittsburgh within the next 18 months.
The office at 501 Grant St. is one of Pittsburgh’s most architecturally significant landmarks, the firm said. Commissioned by Henry Clay Frick in 1915, the building was acquired by an affiliate of Boston-based developer The Davis Companies in 2014. Following a $100 million restoration, the building serves as a hub for premier office, retail and dining space. The location places Saxton & Stump’s team within walking distance of city and federal courthouses and many of the firm’s clients.