Elmont Online

ALBANY -- Former Gov. Hugh Carey's life was "a great example of making things work -- government worked, faith worked, family worked," according to his son Kevin Carey, one of several children of New York's 51st governor to take part in a memorial Mass held Monday at Albany's Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception.

Among the roughly 250 attendees, the pews contained Albany Mayor Jerry Jennings, U.S. Rep. Paul D. Tonko, state Sen. Neil Breslin, Albany County Executive Michael Breslin, and Assembly members Bob Reilly and Jack McEneny.

Carey died on Aug. 7 at age 92. A funeral Mass was held at St. Patrick's Cathedral in Manhattan days later.

In his homily, Bishop Howard Hubbard recalled Carey as a man who "shared his wisdom, his vision and his political acumen" as a seven-term Congressman and two-term governor. Hubbard noted that Carey was tested throughout his life, by combat in World War II, political challenges and family tragedies, such as the death of his wife Helen in 1974 -- just months before Carey's first gubernatorial win.

In addition to praising his charity work for local institutions such as Hope House and the Teresian House, Hubbard called Carey "the best and most humorous off-the-cuff speaker I have ever had the pleasure to encounter."

Kevin Carey recalled his father's "confidence and ambition to make a difference in the world." He said that while many considered the 1975 financial bailout of New York City to be the governor's greatest accomplishment, the elder Carey was always quick to deflect praise onto the team he had assembled to address the city's woes.

Speaking of his father's opposition to the death penalty, Kevin Carey said his father tied the issue to his part in the liberation of the Nordhausen concentration camp during the war -- an experience that left Carey with a conviction that the state should never be in the business of taking life. That same chapter, the younger Carey said, informed his father's decision to sign the Willowbrook consent decree, which overhauled state care for the disabled following revelations of horrific treatment in some facilities.

Kevin Carey also described a devoted husband, father and grandfather who at Christmas would labor to make sure every child had a similarly sized pile of presents.

"Not an easy task with 14 of us," he said.

Reach Seiler at 454-5619 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .