Pols gather to remember ex-Gov. Hugh Carey

New York's political class turned out Thursday to fill St. Patrick's Cathedral to remember former Gov. Hugh Carey, who led the state out of an economic crisis in the 1970s.

Former governors, mayors, members of Congress and state legislators joined current officeholders to celebrate a man many called the state's greatest governor in recent times. Carey died Sunday at the age of 92.

"He was obviously the most effective governor in our modern history . . . including myself," said former Gov. Mario Cuomo.

"He did, in fact, save New York City and when he saved New York City, he saved New York State. And when he saved New York City and New York State, he protected the honor of the whole country," Cuomo said before the service.

Carey, a liberal Democrat, took office on Jan. 1, 1975. New York City was nearing bankruptcy, threatening to bring the Empire State down with it.

Declaring that the "days of wine and roses are over," Carey seized control of the city's finances and put together more than $1 billion in state loans to bail out the city.

Thursday, the New York Police Department's Emerald Society Pipe Band played "Amazing Grace" as Carey's coffin was brought into the cathedral.

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Cardinal Edward Egan, archbishop emeritus of New York, presided over the service and delivered the homily. He called Carey "a prophet who spoke the truth . . . with wisdom and strength."

"As governor, he faced both a state and a city which, in the words of his friend Mayor [Edward I.] Koch, were headed toward the pit of bankruptcy," Egan said. "And he took the matter in hand, with incredible skill and unlimited courage."

Five of Carey's 11 surviving children spoke at the service. They recalled him as the man who loved to take them to FAO Schwarz and play Santa Claus at Christmas, who liked Lionel train sets because he never had one as a child, who loved to flip pancakes and whom they called "The Huge."

"Time spent with him was 'Huge duty,' " said daughter Marianne Carey Hayes.

"If you take anything from today," said daughter Nancy Carey Cassidy, "it's that his life is an example of making things work."

The service drew politicians of all stripes. Former New York City Mayor Koch, a Democrat, arrived at the funeral with Republican former Sen. Alfonse D'Amato. Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, a Democrat, sat near Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who's now an independent. Nearby was former Republican Gov. George Pataki.

Carey was buried on Shelter Island.

Outside the church, former Lt. Gov. Richard Ravitch, who also was part of the team that worked on the 1970s fiscal crisis, recalled his favorite memory of Carey.

"I went to see him to talk about public television. It was September 1979. He said: 'I am not going to talk to you unless you agree to be MTA chairman.' I said, 'You're crazy.' And, of course, a week later, I agreed."