Eichler, David K., 1913-2003

David Kemble Eichler (1913-2003) was a real estate agent and "popular local personality" in the Chestnut Hill neighborhood of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (Mazzaccaro). After receiving a BA from Franklin & Marshall College, at the age of 23 Eichler was named head of the English Department at Chestnut Hill Academy in Philadelphia. He enrolled at Harvard University in 1940 to pursue a PhD in philosophy, but instead transferred to the business school and earned an MBA in 1943. He was conscripted into the Air Force during World War II, then moved to Washington, D.C., where he worked for the Far Eastern Commission to help democratize post-War Japan. (Lear).

Eichler returned to Chestnut Hill and started a real estate office with partner Bill Moffly in Chestnut Hill in 1960. It became very successful and as their staff grew, they opened satellite offices in nearby communities. Eichler continued on his journalistic bent, writing opinion pieces for The Chestnut Hill Local newspaper. (Mazzaccaro).

Eichler, who never married, was friendly with actress Katharine Hepburn (1907-2003). After seeing her in The Philadelphia Story on Broadway in 1939, he sent her a fan letter and they struck up a correspondence (Finding aid for Eichler MSS). Over the decades that followed, he accompanied her to the theater and sent her elaborate bouquets of flowers (Mann 481). Co-workers remember Hepburn telephoning Eichler at his real estate office (Mazzaccaro).

After Moffly's retirement, Eichler sold the firm in 1995, but continued to work there until soon before his death in 2003 (Mazzaccaro).

Bibliography:

Finding aid for Eichler MSS. Lilly Library, Indiana University. Accessed December 29, 2011. http://www.indiana.edu/~liblilly/lilly/mss/index.php?p=eichler

Lear, Len. "David Eichler, Hill Legend, Dies at 90." Chestnut Hill Local, August 7, 2003.

Mann, William J. Kate: The Woman Who Was Hepburn . New York: Henry Holt and Company, 2006.

Mazzaccaro, Pete. "Eichler and Moffly Marks 50 Years and Counting." The Chestnut Hill Local, October 7, 2010. Accessed December 29, 2011.

From the guide to the David K. Eichler Collection, Bulk, 1925-1994, 1898-1994, (Chestnut Hill Historical Society)