During the official three days of mourning for the late Bishop Emeritus Thomas V. Daily, there were many stories told about the bishop, the priest, the man.

There was no doubt that he was an exceptional person. With his own humanity, he touched everyone with whom he came in contact.

Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio told about the time that he met Bishop Daily in 1995 in Giants Stadium in the Meadowlands when Pope John Paul II was visiting. Anyone who was there can recall that it was pouring rain that evening.

At the time, Bishop DiMarzio was working in Newark, N.J., his home diocese. He had come prepared for the rain and had a poncho to protect himself. He was carrying an extra poncho and he offered it to Bishop Daily, who was very grateful.

Years later, when Bishop DiMarzio was named to take over Brooklyn as Bishop Daily was retiring, the Brooklyn prelate said he was now returning the favor by giving him the diocese.

Here’s another one from NYPD Brooklyn South Chief Chuck Scholl, a legendary Brooklyn hero. Chief Scholl is proud of a photo he has of Bishop Daily and himself from a Great Irish Fair in Coney Island. This was years ago and Scholl was still a captain in the area.

Bishop Daily signed the photo and wrote to “Chief” Scholl, a higher rank than the deputy inspector he was. When the officer pointed out the error to the bishop, he smiled and said not to worry and he would be a chief someday.

Lastly, a story is told by church historian Pat McNamara. Apparently, Bishop Daily at one time was a smoker, favoring unfiltered Chesterfields. He got angry when he noticed how his fingers were turning yellowish from the tar and nicotine.

Finally, he had enough and said the fingers that touched the Eucharist should not be tainted by a bad habit. He never smoked again.

Anyone who knew Bishop Daily will recognize a little piece of him in each of these stories. He was reverent, yet down-to-earth. He always had that twinkle in his eye and was ready with a disarming quip. Always gentle. Never perplexed. He simply trusted in the Lord because he felt with God on his side, he could never go wrong.