MIDDLETOWN – Politicians, friends and family filled Temple Sinai
in Middletown on Tuesday to say farewell to a man everyone called a statesman.
Former Congressman Benjamin Gilman died on Saturday, December 17 at age
94.
Among those who attended the funeral service was Congressman Sean Patrick
Maloney, who currently holds the seat geographically similar to Gilman’s.
“He was an American hero and a terrific role model for someone like
me who is in the early part of a career in Congress,” he said. “There
is not a week that goes by that I don’t have somebody come up to
me and say, ‘I hope you will be like Ben Gilman’. He was one
of the good ones.”
Former Orange County Executive Mary McPhillips said Gilman was loved
by everyone.
“He was just so popular, so good to so many people. We are going
to miss him. It’s a sad day, but in heaven they are rejoicing. They
have somebody who looks out for everybody down here,” McPhillips
said.
Former County Executive Edward Diana said Gilman epitomized what public
service is all about.
“No one ever did it better; no one will ever do it like that again.
Politicians just don’t do that today, but I don’t call him
a politician. I call him a friend and a public servant,” Diana said.
Middletown Mayor Joseph DeStefano knew Gilman for a great many years
as well.
“I remember him everywhere. He was just a magnificent man, the type
of politics that seems to be lost in Washington nowadays. He was a gracious
winner and a great public servant.”
Following the funeral, Gilman was laid to rest at West Point Cemetery
at the US Military Academy.
