''I am grateful that he was the one who taught me how to be a bishop.''
Cincinnati Archbishop Daniel E. Pilarczyk
''I found him to be a sympathetic listener, but I did not expect him to act to change any current teaching or any current rules.''
Janet Kalven, activist, feminist educator
''New things were breaking open in the church... He was not threatened... He knew he did not dare close down the Spirit.''
Ursuline Sister Pat Brockman, New Jerusalem Community
''He was always looking for answers. He would always say, 'There's got to be a way to solve these problems.'''
Eugene P. Ruehlmann, former mayor, civic activist and Protestant layman
''He was one of the nicest men I ever worked with... and you have to remember it was a very sensitive thing, merging hospitals owned by two orders of nuns... He would say, 'I hope you gentlemen can get it done,' and we got it done.''
Gustave Juengling III, layman active in the merger of St. Francis and St. George hospitals
''There was an openness to the kinds of outreach needed in the black community and a responsiveness to the kinds of liturgical and structural changes that the black community felt were necessary... liturgical and structural, meaning black participation in all levels of the church.''
Bob Davis, black Catholic activist
''Archbishop Bernadin was... the figure to whom the media and others turned for statements on public issues. Because of his sense of collegiality and interfaith cooperation, wherever there was common ground, he included leaders of other denominations, and that really made it possible for us to function.''
The Rev. Duane Holm, director of the Metropolitan Area Religious Coalition of Cincinnati
''He did get some flak for appointing me. I'm sure he knew he was going to get some heat for appointing a laywoman.''
Judy Ball, first woman to edit the Catholic Telegraph
''I've never met anybody with his political skills,'' but ''he would never quite accept the fact that he was overtly political.''
William Schumacher, former archdiocesan director of social action
''He's probably the only archbishop of the diocese who ever asked my advice on affairs having to do with the black community, and I (gave) a lot of advice.''
The Rev. Clarence Rivers, liturgist and worship consultant
''It felt good to know that someone could care that much about what you thought.''
The Rev. Philip O. Seher, former head of priest personnel
''The best administration is very pastoral, and he did administration in that very pastoral style.''
Sister Mary Ann Barnhorn, Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur
''The humble person also is created in the image of God. He did not distinguish between the humble and the mighty... and you can't fake that.''
Mira P. Brichto, president of R'fa-aye-nu Society
Published Nov. 15, 1996.
