Cardinal Edward Egan

Roman Catholic Cardinal Edward Egan once said he did not like eulogies. But after the retired ninth Archbishop of New York died of cardiac arrest on March 5 at 82, thousands packed St. Patrick’s Cathedral to celebrate the life of this scholar of canon law who loved music and helped carry the city through the dark days following Sept. 11, 2001.

The day the towers fell, Egan gave last rites to victims, his gold Cardinal’s ring over his blue rubber gloves. Not all his moves were popular–he closed parishes to help eliminate the diocese’s multimillion-dollar debt and faced criticism for how he handled allegations of clergy sexual abuse–but as his successor, Cardinal Timothy Dolan, says, “He constantly asked, ‘Is it good for the people? Will it help lead them to Jesus? Will it build up the faith?'”

Archbishop Demetrios of America, the leader of the Greek Orthodox Church in America, who often worked alongside Cardinal Egan, says he will remember him as “a kind and gentle church leader always focusing on serving his people in the best way and connecting them with God.”

–ELIZABETH DIAS