A CHANCE TO SAY GOODBYE
Memorial at St. Patrick's showed how beloved Met's greatness transcended baseball
WHAT a grand farewell for Le Grand Orange.
What a fittingly elaborate tribute to the man who enjoyed fine wine, fine food and fine living.
Somewhere, Rusty Staub had to be smiling.
The Mets icon, who died after a lengthy illness on March 29, received a hero’s goodbye Wednesday afternoon in a memorial Mass at stately St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Midtown. With Cardinal Timothy Michael Dolan presiding, the approximately 1,500 people in attendance (as per the Archdiocese of New York) celebrated Staub’s 73plus years of great hitting, great cheer and legendary generosity.
“It’s very humbling to be in St. Patrick’s Cathedral for a memorial for your friend,” said Ron Darling, Staub’s Mets teammate and an SNY analyst. “There are so many people here I never would’ve known if not for Rusty. I guess grieving together is a lot easier.”
Rusty wanted precisely this sort of memorial at precisely this church, his friend Mike Troise (who serves as president of the Rusty Staub Foundation) revealed, and you could see why, as the man loved big events. Bagpipes welcomed those who came to honor Staub, and what a group came. In addition to Darling, the Mets’ contingent included former players John Franco and Lee Mazzilli; former manager Bobby Valentine; former general manager (and current front-office executive) Omar Minaya; assistant GM John Ricco; and owners Fred and Jeff Wilpon. Commissioner Rob Manfred attended, as did his Players Association counterpart Tony Clark, and among the other union officials who attended was Steve Rogers, Staub’s teammate with the Expos.
And of course, the New York Police Department, Fire Department of New York and Port Authority Police all were represented, thanks to Staub’s baby, the New York Police & Fire Widows’ & Children’s Benefit Fund. Rangers great Mark Messier, who works with the fund, added more star power to the proceedings with his representation.
Cardinal Dolan, the Archbishop of New York, spoke of how comfortable Staub felt at this church, and he added, “We thank almighty God for the great gift that [Staub] was.”
Monsignor Kevin Sullivan, the executive director of Catholic Charities, who knew Staub for about the last 20 years of his life, spoke lovingly and honestly of his friend. Sure, Rusty probably could have indulged less in food and drink, Sullivan said, and he joked about Staub’s lack of patience. Yet those imperfections, as well as the fact that Rusty played for five teams but never the Monsignor’s beloved Yankees, were easily forgiven when considering the totality of the man.
Staub’s attitude toward charity and equality, the Monsignor said, taught us that “Concern for the poor does not mean disdain for the rich.”
The Monsignor even took a dig at the Baseball Writers Association of America for not electing Rusty into the game’s Hall of Fame, though that snub gave him a great conclusion for Staub: “On the very first ballot, he made God’s hall of fame in heaven.”
After the Mass, many sang his praises in a news conference. Manfred revealed that he would often encounter Staub at their mutual favorite restaurant in Florida. Said the commissioner: “You always knew when Rusty was in the place because he was usually at the bar, almost always with a glass of wine in front of him, and there was always a buzz surrounding his presence.”
Valentine, who became a Mets coach in 1983, ranked as Rusty’s superior despite being six years younger. Recalled Bobby V.: “He was the first to ever say to me, ‘Remember, you’re a good teacher, but no one cares what you know until they know that you care.’ ”
Mazzilli disclosed that he met his wife, Dani, through Rusty and another mutual friend, and the Mazzillis were married at St. Patrick’s.
“Baseball is what we do, but it’s not who we are,” Mazzilli said. “Rusty was definitely more than that.”
For sure, as Darling said, “He would’ve been great if he had never gotten a hit.”
Stephen Dannhauser, the chair of the fund that Staub founded, said, “It’s appropriate in a house of worship to say that Rusty really personified the great Christian commandment ‘ Love thy neighbor as thyself.’ With all of the work that he did for the widows and the hungry in this town, I can’t think of a person who has stepped up to a greater degree than this man. The world would be a much better place if all people of means did what Rusty did and gave back.”
He is missed, already. This massive gathering, however, showed that he sure as heck won’t be forgotten.