Public Funerals

  

I’m working on posts concerning the Kavenaugh Supreme Court nomination, as well as the current sexual abuse crisis in the Catholic church, but in the meantime would just like to post a little comment on the recent public funerals of Senator John McCain, and singer Aretha Franklin, the “Queen of Soul.” 

I don’t like public funerals no matter how talented or great the deceased person was. In the first place, public figures get enormous recognition in their lifetime but death is the great leveler, and when death comes, we are all equal. Moreover, just being a leading politician or talented performer does not mean that you were any better than anyone else as a person. 

Secondly, I do not like it when speakers at these events, which often seem to be events rather than funerals by the way they are staged, often use them as a means to make political or cultural points that ultimately distract from the person they are supposed to be remembering. The comments often seem self-serving, petty, and bogus.

I would like to just contrast such eulogies with the words uttered by Phil Rizzuto, the legendary New York Yankee ballplayer and announcer, when he heard of the tragic death of Thurman Munson, the great NY Yankee catcher, in an airplane crash at the height of his career. On August 2, 1979, Munson died while piloting his private plane on an off-day during the baseball season. 

On the next day, Rizzuto spoke the following words during a pre-game show. In characteristic fashion Rizzuto messed up some of the words of the traditional Catholic prayer to a guardian angel but spoke simply and from the heart.

There’s a little prayer I always say

Whenever I think of my family or when I’m flying,

When I’m afraid, and I am afraid of flying.

It’s just a little one. You can say it no matter what,

Whether you’re Catholic or Jewish or Protestant or whatever.

And I’ve probably said it a thousand times

Since I heard the news on Thurman Munson.

It’s not trying to be maudlin or anything.

His Eminence, Cardinal Cooke, is going to come out

And say a little prayer for Thurman Munson.

But this is just a little one I say time and time again,

It’s just: Angel of God, Thurman’s guardian dear,

To whom his love commits him here there or everywhere,

Ever this night and day be at his side,

To light and guard, to rule and guide. 

For some reason it makes me feel like I’m talking to Thurman,

Or whoever’s name you put in there,

Whether it be my wife or any of my children, my parents or anything.

It’s just something to keep you from going really bananas.

Because if you let this,

If you keep thinking about what happened, and you can’t understand it,

That’s what really drives you to despair.

Faith. You gotta have faith.

You know, they say time heals all wounds,

And I don’t quite agree with that a hundred percent.

It gets you to cope with wounds,

You carry them the rest of your life.

A few days later, Rizzuto returned to the subject while broadcasting ad lib during the midst of a game in progress.

The Yankees have had a traumatic four days,

Actually five days,

That terrible crash with Thurman Munson.

To go through all that agony,

And then today,

You and I along with the rest of the team

Flew to Canton for the services,

And the family…Very upset.

You know, it might,

It might sound a little corny,

But we have the most beautiful full moon tonight

And the crowd,

Enjoying whatever is going on right now.

They say it might sound corny,

But to me it’s some kind of a…,

Like an omen.

Both the moon and Thurman Munson,

Both ascending up into heaven.

I just can’t get it out of my mind,

I just saw that full moon,

And it just reminded me of Thurman,

And that’s it.

(August 6, 1979 Baltimore at New York, fifth inning, bases empty, no outs.)

Note: These words and many others of Rizzuto’s can be found in a collection, O Holy Cow, edited by Tom Peyer and Hart Seely. The editors claim that Rizzuto’s words were truly poetic and have subtitled their collection, “The Selected Verse of Phil Rizzuto.

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