Carey funeral also a political reunion
Former New York Gov. Mario Cuomo, center, bows his head as he and other dignitaries sit near the casket of former Gov. Hugh Carey. (Aug. 11, 2011) Credit: AP
From the altar it sounded, properly, like a stately funeral Mass, laced with well-worded family eulogies.
In the pews, and later in the street, the occasion felt more like a political reunion -- a civic old-timers' day.
Hundreds of the faces arrayed in St. Patrick's Cathedral to say goodbye to Hugh Leo Carey Thursday belonged to seasoned veterans from public life, now in middle age and on up.
"This was a celebration," former Gov. George Pataki said on the sunny sidewalk outside. "We've all been to many tragic funerals. This is one where we can set aside the loss and truly appreciate a wonderful life."
There were the obvious state and national figures from both parties: Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo and three of his predecessors; Mayor Michael Bloomberg and three of his; also; Sen. Charles Schumer, Rep. Charles Rangel -- even former New Jersey governors Jim McGreevey and Brendan Byrne.
From Long Island, the most recognizable included former Sen. Alfonse D'Amato, state Public Service Commissioner James L. Larocca, former Nassau County Executive Thomas Suozzi, former Suffolk Executive Patrick Halpin and Nassau Interim Finance Authority board member George J. Marlin.
For a media narrative, to give it all currency, the nation's debt crisis spawned a lot of what-would-Carey-do questions -- despite vast and obvious differences between Albany in 1975, as New York City neared bankruptcy, and Washington in 2011.
But this was principally about the past. Eighty-year-old Joseph Califano Jr., the former U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare secretary, recalled Carey's leadership and negotiating abilities as a young congressman in the 1960s. Califano credited Carey with breaking a deadlock over aid to parochial schools in a landmark education bill, back when Califano was a top domestic aide to President Lyndon B. Johnson.
Scanning the rows inside the cathedral, you could distinguish separate contingents and networks. Here sat a handful of former aides to former Mayor Rudy Giuliani. There huddled some who had worked for Carey and then for his successor, Mario M. Cuomo. There were top-10 lobbyists, lawyers, bank officials, publicists, party operatives. A few judges in the mix, people versed in the obscure protocols of a hundred or two state and municipal agencies. Some see each other frequently, others not at all.
There were greetings among people who fought bitter political skirmishes.
Carey, above all, was a social figure. "He was a lot of fun to be with," said Mike Long, the state Conservative Party chairman. Long hails from Brooklyn, which Democrat Carey represented in Congress for seven terms.
For all his storied quirks, it was also clear that Carey owned the true political personality.
Cardinal Edward Egan, who retired as archbishop in 2009, recalled having contacted Carey a few years ago to say, "I have a big favor to ask."
Carey replied: "You got it. . . . What is it?"
