Havre de Grace leaders paid tribute Monday to Rene Arthur Lambert, a former city councilman and member of the planning commission, who died Feb. 28 at age 85.
Mayor Wayne Dougherty called Mr. Lambert "a friend to us up here [on the council], a man with wisdom, understanding and compassion for the city he represented."
Mr. Lambert spent two terms on the council during the 1980s and '90s, and he also spent more than a decade on the Planning Commission, according to city officials.
The Massena, N.Y., native also served on the city's Board of Appeals and Historic Commission, as well as the board of directors for St. John's Towers, a residential complex for senior citizens, according to his obituary.
Mr. Lambert spent more than 30 years working as a mechanical engineer with the Aberdeen Test Center at Aberdeen Proving Ground. Other community service activities included the Deer Creek Watershed Association, Susquehanna Museum at the Lock House and serving as a Little League manager in Havre de Grace and rec coach in Churchville, according to his obituary.
Mr. Lambert received a key to the city in 2009.
Dougherty asked those in the council chambers to keep Mr. Lambert and his surviving family members in their prayers and observe a moment of silence.
"God bless you, Rene," an emotional Dougherty said. "We love you; we're going to miss you."
Council members also spoke fondly of Mr. Lambert Monday.
Councilman John Correri called him "a champion for the City of Havre de Grace."
Councilman Fred Cullum said Mr. Lambert had been a mentor.
"He spent a lot of time in City Hall," Cullum recalled. "I spent a lot of time talking to him, asking him things. He was just a wonderful person; you couldn't ask for a better person to know and be a friend. He just couldn't do enough for the community, and he will be sorely missed."
Councilman Steve Gamatoria called Mr. Lambert "just a true gentleman."
"He was one of those individuals that, you felt very comfortable when he was sitting up here," Gamatoria said. "He was going to do all the right things for all the right reasons."
Mr. Lambert is survived by his wife, Mary, three children, seven grandchildren and six great-grandchildren, as well as a brother, according to his obituary.
A memorial service is scheduled for noon on March 11 at the Zellman Funeral Home at 123 S. Washington St. in Havre de Grace.