NEW ORLEANS -- Hundreds of mourners gathered at St. Louis Cathedral Friday for the funeral services of former Saints and Pelicans owner and philanthropist Tom Benson.
It may have been a private ceremony, but surrounding the tight security at Tom Benson’s funeral were a dense crowd of people in black and gold come to pay their respects and see the current and former Saints’ players attending the funeral.
Inside, more than 800 guests including Adam Silver and David Stern, the current and past commissioners of the NBA, Roger Goodell, the commissioner of the NFL, players like Drew Brees,
Watch Full Service for Tom Benson
It was a time for everyone with a Saints Superbowl ring to wear them proudly, including Tom Benson.
“We try to wear rings on special occasions,” Jay Romig said. “This is definitely a ring thing for Mr. Benson today.”
Benson took over the Saints team in the mid-80s when it looked like it might be sold and moved out of the city. And, following some contentious moments after Hurricane Katrina - and perhaps with some prodding - Benson kept the team in New Orleans and then assembled the leadership group that brought the team a Super Bowl championship in 2010.
As Tom Benson’s widow Gayle walked up, she was greeted by someone who shouted “we love you Gayle!” She was escorted by dozens of Catholic priests and bishops as the casket arrived while a choir sang outside.
Invited guests said it was an honor attend.
“It’s a very important day, because this is a man I have emulated, I have admired” Margarita Bergen said. “His philanthropy has reached a lot of us.”
“It’s a sad day, but it’s also a celebration of an outstanding wonderful life by Tom Benson,” former Saints Head Coach Jim Mora said. “Great guy … I worked for him for 11 years. He treated me very well and I’m going to miss him.”
Archbishop Gregory Aymond talked about Benson's financial riches but said his richness of faith was greater. He also mentioned the losses Benson had suffered in life and the fondness he had of talking about how he met his wife Gayle Benson at the Cathedral.
"Tom, you live on -- you live in -- our hearts. And Tom, we promise we will do our very best to keep your spirit and your faith alive."
After the ceremony, a white, horse-drawn hearse carried Benson’s casket away as three brass bands played “Just a Closer Walk with Thee.”
“It was wonderful … I've never been in a service quite like that,” Saints Punter Thomas Morstead said. “It was perfect and it's a perfect day to celebrate Tom.”