To the family, pulpit guest, and to all of you who have come to pay respects to my friend and to your friend Bryant McCloskey, good morning and greetings. I am delighted to see so many of my friends from New York life and from my professional days here in Philadelphia. Venessa, when she asked me to say some words about her father, allotted me 2 minutes and I have already used 30 seconds of that time. So let me get right to it.

When I thought about what to say about Bryant I tried to think of a phrase that would epitomized what my experience knowing Bryant meant, what it stood for. And I came up with the phrase “Tenacity to Prevail.” Tenacity is defined as having a resolve, steadfastness and a commitment to achieve your goals, to “prevail” is to win.

I observed Bryant from several vantage points for over 36 years, “wow!, how the time goes by. At one time in our relationship I was an Advanced Underwriting Consultant for him at New York Life Insurance Company when Cassius Williams, some of you may remember him, ran the Mid Atlantic region for the New York Life: Cassius did the running I was a part of his team. After that, I was his lawyer, then I became his friend, then his landlord but, most of all, during our years together, up until his death I was his counsellor. Bryant and I shared many breakfasts and dinners together over the years. He liked his eggs prepared in his own special way I never knew exactly how that was but he certainly knew and he was adamant about it. And he loved his prime rib cooked medium well.

As I saw it, Bryant was determined to prevail at several things: He loved his daughters and he worked assiduously to see that their needs were taken care of, that they got a good education. He cobbled together tuition payments and combed hair and did everything else a caring father does to take care of his family, he had no wife to lend a helping hand. He loved his grand kids and he would tell me about how smart they were and what schools they had tested their way into and all the toys he was buying for them to push them on.

He cared about his brother and looked after him as long as he could and fought valiantly to see that his brother got every advantage he was entitled to.

He cared about his community and he worked to make an intersectional crossing in his neighborhood at one of its most dangerous points safer for those who used it daily. He went on after some urging to become the Ward Committeeman for his district. He loved Philadelphia. I called him Mr. Philadelphia.

He cared about his career at New York life and safely guarded his relationship with that company until his demise. While many of his associates at New York Life faded away over the years to managed to endure to the end, by carefully adhering to the rules.

Bryant had an intellectual bent about him as well, he respected education, loved the computer and would stay up all night exploring its many features especially when it first came out.

And finally he cared about essential elements of his financial security and he over came many hurdles to maintain that security.

The hand he was dealt did not have many aces in it but, he played that hand with commitment and savvy.

Bryant, was a “good and decent man.” As President Obama said not long ago at the funeral for the pastor of the church where the massacre of 10 parishioners took place, in Charleston, SC., “the best thing you can say about a man is that he was a good man.”

So I say to Bryant and I know he hears me “you made it man, you prevailed! And I know “you know” what I am talking about! You know it is not how long you live but how you live long.

To the family I say you needn’t be weary about the fact of his death. His death leaves a tremendous void that only time and memories can fill because death is the immutable consequence of life. You will remember your father for the rest of your lives and that “is” as it should be but, as former Vice President Joe Biden said at the funeral for John McCain, speaking to his children. “he gave you enough, he gave you enough.” Enough to live by and to carry on with.

The noted writer Elisabeth Kubler Ross, MD, most noted for her books on death and dying said there should be joy at death because the “trial” of life is over. Bryant’s trials are over.

In the King James Version and in the New International version of the bible, book of James, 1st chapter 12th verse it says, “Blessed is the man that endures trials for when he is tried, when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.” Bryant’s trials are over.

Let me close by leaving you with a prayer from of St. Francis of Assisi, that has sustained me for many years if only I could apply it consistently.