By Archbishop Thomas A. Donnellan

I have known Cardinal Cooke for 50 years, since the time he entered the New York seminary, St. Joseph’s Dunwoody. He entered the seminary to begin his studies the year I was ordained. However, I had known the Cooke family through his brother Joe, who was a student with me, but left before ordination and subsequently married.

I was associated with the cardinal when we were both priests of the Archdiocese of New York. He succeeded me as secretary to Cardinal Spellman and we were both officials in the New York Chancery. Our paths crossed again when we each had assignments in the seminary.”

I am most grateful to the cardinal for his kindness to my sister, Nancy, over many years. Both of our families were raised in the same area of New York City.

I have always had the highest esteem for Cardinal Cooke’s priestly qualities. He was a warm, friendly, human being, an outstanding churchman and a distinguished leader. I was honored to serve with him on many national committees and to have been associated with his work as Military Ordinary since I serve as Southeast Delegate for the Military Ordinariate.

Most memorable, of course, was his acceptance of the news of his approaching death. It typified the way he accepted God’s will in his life.

I last saw him in June when we attended the installation of Bishop O’Connor of Scranton, Pa. We then offered Mass together in Albany, New York for the sister of Bishop John Ryan.

May he rest in peace.