Former county D.A. Denis Dillon remembered at funeral Mass

In a funeral Mass attended by hundreds, including many public officials and representatives from the law enforcement community Thursday morning at St. Agnes Cathedral, former Nassau County District Attorney Denis Dillon, a resident of Rockville Centre, was remembered as a dedicated public servant and a man of principle.

In their words of remembrance, the Hon. Arthur Diamond and Dillon's daughter, Barbara, both praised his devotion to his work, to the people he protected in his role as a prosecutor, as well as to God. He was described as unique -- smart, funny, comtempletative, worldly, religious and always cognizant of his Irish ancestry. An independent man, he could be stubborn, unwavering in his convictions, and it was said that he was never a politician,choosing his fate with the political establishment as he passionately embraced the rights of the unborn.

"A great man deserves a great send off," said Barbara Dillon, who said her family has been overwhelmed by the outpouring of love and support they've received from the parish community.

Pallbearers and an honor guard from the Nassau County Police Department accompanied Dillon's coffin as it left the cathedral. A possession followed the hearse for his burial at the Cemetery of the Holy Rood.