Archbishop Philip Hannan, a great church leader, humanitarian, and anti-Communist, died last week at 98. He was a “paratrooper priest” in World War II; he gave the official eulogy for JFK; he helped New Orleans cope with the then-unprecededentedly bad Hurricane Betsy in 1965; and, in an amazing story that merits closer telling, he personally talked U.S. Rep. Bob Livingston out of retirement in early 1998, a decision fraught with unexpected consequences. A wonderful gentleman and a truly devout and spiritual man who did wonderful things for many people well into his 90s, Archbishop Hannan was one of a kind. May he rest in God’s peace and joy forever.
