I was at Peter Rodman’s funeral at Beth Israel temple in Boston earlier today.

That’s an odd thing to say, “Peter Rodman’s funeral.” But there we are. One day to be “Kathryn Lopez’s funeral” … or fill in your name.

The last time I saw Peter was the American Enterprise Institute dinner in March. I was lucky enough to be sitting with Peter and Veronique. So I had the best seat in the house. He was so full of life, so full of love for his wife and children, so looking forward to their time together, with Peter’s latest government service complete.

Seeing Veronique today without Peter was jarring. But I immediately heard Veronique and Peter laughing, Veronique and Peter smiling, Veronique and Peter being generous with their time and talents. Great love lives on. Peter’s love for his family lives on. When you love deeply — your spouse, your children, your parents, all of your family and friends — you live on in them. Your memory carries with them. In this way, I can report from Boston confirmation that Peter’s not going away.

Peter was remembered today as a man whose intelligence was only superceded by his integrity which was superceded by his humanity, humility, and humor. He always looked for the best in others and gave the best he had.

At the funeral service, a story was told about Peter having once gone to Rome with Henry Kissinger. Peter was slated to meet the pope but in his humility, gave the spot to a Catholic colleague, knowing how much it would mean to him. A story was told about how he didn’t re-up his Oxford scholarship in his younger years, because he realized doing so would keep another student from the opportunity he was already afforded. That sounds like the Peter, who, every time I saw him, quoted from something “K-Lo” had just written, encouraging me in things big and small. So many people have similar stories about Peter Rodman. We remember them and him. I give thanks for Peter, I thank his family for sharing him, and I pray I can be as good as he was.

After hearing the pope story, I’m sure Peter wouldn’t mind if I quoted a Catholic as a warning message from Peter to those of us who remain: “Time is a treasure that melts away. It escapes us, slipping through our fingers like water through the mountain rocks. Tomorrow will soon be another yesterday. Our lives are so very short. Yesterday has gone and today is passing by. But what a great deal can be done for the love of God in this short space of time!”