Today, hundreds in our community will attend the memorial Mass of Christian burial for former Dunkirk Mayor Richard Frey at 10 a.m. in St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church. We all must look back fondly on the 10 years that Frey took pride in leading a city he loved.

He cherished the people. He appreciated the blue-collar spirit. And, no matter how bad things got, he kept pushing and believing in a municipality that had stood still for far too long while other areas of the region showed some signs of progress.

Without Dick Frey’s tenure, where would Dunkirk be today?

Frey made the city’s Christmases extra special, adding lights and music to City Hall. His administration kicked off the concerts on the waterfront and special festivals, all of which continue to happen. He was a centerpiece to the Memorial Day services and parade.

During his time in office, he helped build up downtown, specifically near the waterfront. If it was not for the Masonic Temple fire of 2010, Central Avenue would still be buzzing.

He was an ambassador — and never missed a chance to praise Dunkirk’s history and its potential for the future.

Sure, like all politicians, he had some flaws. This corner often pointed out when we did not agree with some of his priorities and projects.

That being said, we and many residents loved and appreciated the spunk and fight he brought to office. He was a sparkplug that made Dunkirk believe that great things will happen.

We could be on the cusp of even more prosperity with the arrival of Athenex, which is a project that would have never happened without the state.

But Frey was not one to wait for Albany — or the county. He made sure things happened, almost always for the better.

He is forever a Dunkirk icon. May he rest in peace.