Family, friends and former colleagues of Nathan Marsh Pusey ’28 filled the pews of Memorial Church Friday for a service in honor of the University’s 24th president, who died last November.

The ceremony included eulogies from the three Harvard presidents who served after Pusey—Derek C. Bok, Neil L. Rudenstine and University President Lawrence H. Summers—in one of a handful of times in Harvard’s history that three presidents have gathered together to speak at the same event.

Pusey served as president from 1953 to 1971.

In his speech to the more than 300 attendees, Summers praised Pusey’s willingness to offer advice and support to him just days after he was selected to be Harvard’s 27th president.

“He stressed to me the importance of Harvard College, an institution he loved at the very center of this University,” Summers said. “I saw immediately that this was a man of immense inner strength...dignity, wisdom and grace.”

Rudenstine focused on one of the more tangible changes undertaken by Pusey’s administration—the addition of new buildings such as the Science Center, Peabody Terrace and the Carpenter Center.

“There are certainly some buildings that I would have liked to see deconstructed, then and even now,” Rudenstine quipped, but he lauded Pusey’s “boldness and conviction...[his] desire to alter established patterns.”

Rudenstine also praised Pusey’s commitment to need-blind admissions, “something that we now take too readily for granted.”

Bok, who was selected to succeed Pusey in 1971, said the lessons Pusey taught him played a crucial role in his own presidency.

“He was the ideal predecessor,” Bok said. “He never volunteered advice, but always gave it freely on request.”

Bok said Pusey was dedicated and resolute in his presidency, citing his strong stance on a number of issues, including the importance of diversity in admissions and defense of academic freedom in the face of attacks from Sen. Joseph P. McCarthy.

“In an age of double speak, spin control and other artful dodges, one must admire his courage and quiet strength,” Bok said.

“He knew our foibles as well as anyone,” Bok said. “But what Nate loved was the ideal Harvard.”

A prayer led by Krister Stendahl, dean of the Divinity School during Pusey’s presidency, followed the presidential eulogies. Pusey helped revitalized the Divinity School during his administration.

In addition to religious hymns, the service included performances by the University Choir. And the audience rose to sing “Fair Harvard” in Pusey’s memory.