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CNN Sunday Morning

Family and Friends Pay Their Last Respects to Maureen Reagan

Aired August 19, 2001 - 08:14   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Hundreds of mourners gathered in Sacramento to remember a woman who knew the plight of Alzheimer's patients all too well. Maureen Reagan became a national spokeswoman for the Alzheimer's Association after her father, former President Reagan, announced in 1994 that he had the disease.

She died August 8 after her own battle with a deadly cancer. Here's CNN's Frank Buckley with more on the tribute paid to Maureen Reagan.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

FRANK BUCKLEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): U.S. Secret Service agents once detailed to Maureen Reagan entered the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament bearing her casket.

A thousand people, friends, family, members of the public, offering tribute to the first child of former President Ronald Reagan.

RONALD REAGAN, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: And, of course, for Nancy and me, Maureen is someone we love dearly, and yet someone whom we also recognize as the extraordinary individual that she is.

BUCKLEY: First lady Nancy Reagan, Maureen's stepmother, and actress Jane Wyman, her mother, both participated in the memorial service. Maureen's brother, Michael Reagan, moved by the tribute, offering of his own.

MICHAEL REAGAN, MAUREEN REAGAN'S BROTHER: I just wanted to tell you, thank you. Thank you for wanting a brother. Thank you for always watching over me when I was younger. Thank you for loving me. I know someday we'll be together again. But Maureen, I just want to tell you thank you, and I love you.

BUCKLEY: A video tribute chronicled Maureen's involvement in political causes, such as equal rights for women, and revealed the person behind the public face. The mother to an adopted daughter, Rita, who came from Uganda. A wife to Dennis Revell for 20 years. Actors David Hyde Pierce and Shelley Fabares spoke of her dedication to increase awareness and funding for Alzheimer's research.

DAVID HYDE PIERCE, ACTOR: Maureen took care of people. Took, in the sense of taking charge, taking control, taking the reins. And when she was given lemons in life, she did not make lemonade, she took the lemons and threw them back and said oh, no you don't.

SHELLEY FABARES, ACTRESS: We were the lucky and grateful recipients of her fierce intelligence, her passion, her drive, and her complete and utter devotion to eradicating this miserable disease.

BUCKLEY: EPA Administration Christie Whitman represented the Bush administration and described Reagan as a pioneer in politics.

CHRISTIE TODD WHITMAN, EPA ADMINISTRATOR: She opened doors through which capable and committed women are still walking. She was an inspiration to many of the women who have followed in her path, a path that she helped blaze.

BUCKLEY: Senator John McCain spoke of their mutual battle against melanoma.

SEN. JOHN MCCAIN (R), ARIZONA: I have suffered from that disease, and like the millions of other inflicted by cancer, I am indebted to Maureen for her work in helping to find its cure and for showing us how to fight its ravages with great dignity.

BUCKLEY: Maureen Reagan, Mermie (ph) to friends and family, Radiant, her secret service code name, remembered as a wife, a mother, a daughter to the nation's 40th president.

Frank Buckley, CNN, Sacramento, California.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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