Thomas M. Menino Cancer and Death: Bill Clinton, Joe Biden, Celtics and Red Sox Players Say Goodbye to 11-Year Boston Mayor
On Monday, Nov. 3, the private funeral service for Former Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino, the city's longest serving mayor, was held at the Most Precious Blood Parish in Hyde Park.
According to a spokeswoman, Menino died at 71 just after 9 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 30, following a battle with a rare form of cancer that spread to his liver and lymph nodes. His devoted wife Angela, his family and close friends surrounded him
Former President Bill Clinton arrived at Faneuil Hall in solidarity -- where Menino's body lay in state on Sunday for well-wishers to pay their last respects -- just before 10:30 a.m. on Monday.
While Clinton was not able to attend the funeral, U.S. Vice President Joe Biden did make an appearance and called Menino "without a doubt one of the finest mayors this nation has ever seen," Boston.com reports.
Former Celtics center Bill Russell and 11-time NBA champion Bill Russell also came to lend support on Monday morning, according to WCVB. Red Sox All-Stars David "Big Papi" Ortiz and Pedro Martinez were also in attendance, according to NECN reports.
The Boston Globe reports that the funeral procession for Menino will pass by 10 historical locations in Boston. Among them are Boston University, the Bowdoin-Geneva neighborhood, Fenway Park, Franklin Park, Grove Hall, Kenmore Square, Mattapan Library and Roslindale Square, before ending at Most Precious Blood Church. The procession is also to pass Parkman House, the official residence of the mayor, where Menino held office for five terms beginning in 1993, and Boston City Hall, where he served as a city councilor and mayor. The procession will also voyage through Dudley Square where the recently renovated Ferdinand Building will house a multiplex.
The schedule of events was announced at Menino's memorial site, tommenino.org.
Just before church bells rang 71 times in honor of the former mayor, nine pallbearers from the Boston Police special operations unit transported Menino's casket.
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