A Magnanimous and Erudite Man   

Deepest condolences to you and God Bless Bill Buckley for a life robustly lived.  I had the good fortune to be in his presence back in 2002 at a fundraiser for Father George Rutler’s parish, it was clear to me that he was both a magnanimous and erudite man who I wish I would have had the opportunity to know much better.

A brief WFB anecdote- At that fundraiser for the Church of our Savior (Larry Kudlow was also in attendance), Father Rutler introduced Mr. Buckley to the assembled guests, paying the highest possible praise one could actually bequeath to a man, even going so far to say that we should carve the image and likeness of WFB into Mount Rushmore.  WFB returned the compliment to Fr. Rutler by deadpanning that one of Father Rutler’s greatest gifts was his penchant for hyperbole- it was a vintage good-natured WFB rebuttal. 

WFB’s legacy is an enormous one, and we must carry forth the principles and precepts that he rescued out of the darkness.  May National Review continue on as the conservative movement’s beacon, and may the memory of Bill’s lust for life remind us how we should go about our days on earth- with great joy and aplomb.
Vince Mariano, Boca Raton, FL 

03/02 10:00 PM