During his closing blessing, Plummer Professor of Christian Morals and Pusey Minister of Memorial Church Rev. Peter J. Gomes recalled delivering sermons when Pusey and his wife regularly attended church services at Memorial Church.

The service’s location, Gomes noted, was an appropriate memorial for one who valued and prioritized religion at Harvard.

“Mr. Lowell built the church. Mr. Conant tolerated the church. But Mr. Pusey cherished the church,” Gomes said.

The Memorial Church bells sounded in honor of Pusey after Gomes concluded his remarks.

Along with Pusey’s friends and former colleagues, a handful of students attended the service.

Paul A. Gusmorino ’02, who decided to come to the service after Gomes made an announcement last week in his course Religion 1513, “Harvard: Five Centuries and Eight Presidents,” said he appreciated the opportunity to learn about Pusey’s presidency from those who knew him.

“It seems to me like an important community activity to participate in,” Gusmorino said.

Many of Pusey’s former colleagues attended, including former Dean of Students Archie C. Epps III and former Dean of the Faculty Franklin L. Ford, who greeted and ushered guests to the Memorial Church pews.

Senior Corporation Fellow Robert G. Stone Jr. ’45, Secretary of the Faculty John B. Fox Jr. ’59, and Richard Warch—president of Lawrence College, where Pusey served as president before coming to Harvard—also helped usher.

A reception at Loeb House, where Pusey lived during his 18-year Harvard tenure, followed the service.

There, guests reminisced about Pusey’s life and looked at black and white photographs of Pusey and his family placed throughout the reception area. One photograph showed Pusey with former President John F. Kennedy ’40. Another featured Pusey’s wife, Anne, unrolling curtains to be hung in Loeb House.

Fred L. Glimp ’50, who served as dean of admissions and dean of the college under Pusey, said the presidential eulogies and Stendahl’s prayer were a fitting memorial for Harvard’s 24th president.

“Pusey was an amazing and kind of far-sighted and unflappable person, and it was perfect for him,” Glimp said.

—Staff writer Catherine E. Shoichet can be reached at shoichet@fas.harvard.edu.