Frank Lautenberg funeral: Eulogies recall 'a man for his time'

[alp227]

Source: The Star-Ledger

As hundreds mourn Frank Lautenberg at his funeral service in New York this morning, the first to eulogize the veteran politician was Robert Menendez, his fellow Democratic U.S. senator from New Jersey.

Vice President Joe Biden, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, dozens of other politicians and Lautenberg's wife, Bonnie, children and grandchildren are in attendance at a Manhattan synagogue to honor the late 89-year-old Democrat.

A Paterson native who rose from the city streets to represent New Jersey in Washington for nearly three decades, Lautenberg died on Monday of complications from pneumonia.

Menendez, the first of several high-profile leaders scheduled to give eulogies, recalled Lautenberg as "one of the most tenacious men I've ever met," with a "deep and abiding belief in always holding on and fighting on."

Read more: http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2013/06/frank_lautenberg_funeral_eulog.html

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follow-up Star Ledger story: "U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg gets one last ride at the Secaucus station that bears his name":

In the train station that bears his name, the senator known for his advocacy of all things rail was given a dramatic New Jersey sendoff today at the Frank R. Lautenberg Rail Station at Secaucus Junction, on his way to his final resting place at Arlington National Cemetery.

When i first heard about Lautenberg's funeral being in NEW YORK CITY, my first reaction was: "Why New York and not New Jersey?" Was there no synagogue in Bergen County big enough to accommodate every attendee?

In 2010, the West Virginia funeral of Robert Byrd took place in capital city Charleston even though Byrd originally lived nearly 60 miles away in Sophia (near Beckley). I think funerals of state officials like Byrd and Lautenberg preferably take place in major cities rather than the officials' hometowns?

[MADem]

2. I am gonna miss him. He was a good person and a fine Senator. nt

[karynnj]

3. It was the synagogue that his wife belonged to

From the article:

"The casket bearing Lautenberg's body arrived at the Park Avenue Synagogue, to which his wife belongs, at 9:09 a.m., on a cool, crisp Manhattan morning. Family and friends began arriving within the hour, and a steady stream of mourners flowed into the house of worship within the hour."