Over a million people came. From all over the city, from out of state, some even flew in internationally. Stories were told of how they had met him, how they thought they had known him, only to learn something about who he was with each new person they spoke with. But mostly the stories told, were of how he had changed their lives. In this connection, through the disconnection of death, all these people celebrated.

    “He handed me a ten dollar bill shaped like a flower after I had informed him that I was being laid off from the restaurant he was dining at because it was closing down in a week.”

    “Once he helped me move when I was in a pinch.”

    “He gave me the ring he was wearing, the first jewelry I had ever been given and told me how special I was so he wished I would have it.”

    “When I met him, he was riding the bus in the dead of winter without a jacket, gloves, or a hat and I offered him my gloves. He kindly thanked me but refused saying he was close to home and that the cold air made him feel alive. Later that night I had a snowball fight with my children.”

Sometimes the stories would change slightly.

    “One night she called me a taxi and waited until it arrived paying the bill so I made it home safe after drinking all night.”

    “They held the elevator door open for me when I was running extremely late.”

    “I met her in the park. Out of nowhere he came and pretended to race with me as I did my morning jog.”

    “They were the ones that found my stolen car when it had been abandoned. They must have searched for it all night.”

    “Loaned me $100 dollars so I could pay my rent on time.”

    “Carried in my groceries from the car after seeing one of my bags had split.”

And the list went on.

    “Painted a memory for me.” “Gave me advice when I was having woman troubles.”

    “Changed my flat tire.” “Offered me tomatoes from his garden.”

     Through every telling what was most common was the fact that most didn’t even know the person's name. It didn’t matter really to them. It was such a small thing to them in comparison. They had come to say farewell to the nameless one that had, without needing to give it, made to them a huge difference.