LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION mourning the death of His Eminence Cardinal
Edward M. Egan, Archbishop Emeritus of New York and noted spiritual
leader

WHEREAS, It is with profound sorrow that this Legislative Body, repres-
enting the people of the State of New York, is moved this day to pay
tribute to a preeminent Catholic leader of indomitable faith and dedi-
cation whose purposeful life and accomplishments will forever stand as a
paradigm and inspiration for others; and
WHEREAS, A truly sincere and faithful shepherd of the Roman Catholic
Church, His Eminence Cardinal Edward M. Egan died on Thursday, March 5,
2015, in Manhattan, at the age of 82; and
WHEREAS, Born in Oak Park, Illinois, a Chicago suburb, on April 2,
1932, Edward Michael Egan was the third of four children to Thomas and
Genevieve Costello Egan, both devout Catholics; and
WHEREAS, In 1943, young Edward contracted polio; although he missed
two years at St. Giles Catholic School, he still managed to graduate at
the top of his class; and
WHEREAS, In 1951, he graduated from Archbishop Quigley Preparatory
Seminary in Chicago; he continued his education and earned a bachelor's
degree in philosophy at St. Mary of the Lake Seminary in Mundelein,
Illinois, before completing four years of theological studies at Pontif-
ical Gregorian University in Rome, where he was ordained on December 15,
1957; and
WHEREAS, Assigned to Holy Name Cathedral in Chicago, Edward M. Egan
taught convert classes and served as a hospital Chaplain; he then became
the private secretary to Cardinal Meyer, before being named Assistant
Chancellor of the Archdiocese; and
WHEREAS, Edward M. Egan returned to Rome in 1960, to attend Pontifical
Gregorian University; after four years, he earned his Doctorate in Canon
Law; and
WHEREAS, Upon graduating, he went back to Chicago to serve as Cardinal
Cody's secretary and later Co-Chancellor of the Archdiocese, working on
interfaith relations and social concerns until 1971 when he, once again,
returned to Rome, this time staying until 1985; and
WHEREAS, While in Rome, he worked as a law Professor and later a Judge
of the Sacred Roman Rota, part of the Vatican's court system, dealing
with marriage annulments and other issues; Edward M. Egan was one of
just six lawyers who reviewed Pope John Paul's Code of Canon Law, some
1,750 doctrines governing the church, which was promulgated in 1983; and
WHEREAS, In 1985, Edward M. Egan was named Auxiliary Bishop of New
York and Vicar of Education for the Archdiocese under Cardinal O'Connor;
three years later, he was named Bishop of the Diocese of Bridgeport,
Connecticut, made up of more than 80 parishes, a diverse population of
360,000 Catholics and masses celebrated in 20 languages; and
WHEREAS, On June 19, 2000, Edward M. Egan was installed as the ninth
Archbishop of New York, the esteemed position he held for nine years
until his retirement in 2009; and
WHEREAS, In addition, Archbishop Edward M. Egan was elevated to the
Cardinalate by Pope John Paul II at the Consistory of February 21, 2001,
becoming the Cardinal-Priest of both Saint John and Saint Paul; and
WHEREAS, As Archbishop, Cardinal Edward M. Egan was one of America's
most familiar Catholic leaders; he lived his life based on principles
and values of compassion, integrity, justice and kindness; his empathy
will continue to serve as comfort to those seeking to make the world a
more loving and just place; and

WHEREAS, Cardinal Edward M. Egan's legacy will live forever, not only
in the many, many lives he touched, but in the good works he has left
behind; he reached out to constituents, visiting parishes, schools,
hospitals, nursing homes, day care centers and other institutions;
furthermore, he wrote columns for Catholic publications and hosted a
weekly satellite radio program on church and religious affairs; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to celebrate the
life of this esteemed religious leader who accepted the responsibilities
of moral leadership and who dedicated his life to serving others, and to
express its deepest condolences to His Eminence's nieces and nephews; he
will truly be missed by all those he befriended and served; now, there-
fore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
mourn the death of His Eminence Cardinal Edward M. Egan, Archbishop
Emeritus of New York and noted spiritual leader, as well as rejoice in
his life, noting his unremitting and compassionate faith in his service
to God, man and his community; and be it further
RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to the family of His Eminence Cardinal Edward M. Egan, and the
Archdiocese of New York.