Bishop Desmond Williams: He was "a loyal and discreet co-operator of many archbishops", recalled the Archbishop of Dublin, Dr Diarmuid Martin, in a homily at the requiem Mass for Bishop Desmond Williams (75), retired auxiliary bishop of Dublin, last Monday evening.
Which is such a pity. For what things might have been told by someone less discreet and who had been secretary to Archbishop John Charles McQuaid for 12 years - from 1959 until Dr McQuaid's retirement - for instance? But "Bishop Des", as he became known after appointment as auxiliary bishop of Dublin in 1985, was also "the most private of private people".
Yet this quiet man had an extraordinarily dynamic life which brought him into contact with many people. For instance, in the sporting world - an arena not usually associated with the shy or retiring - he made an impressive contribution.
In 1959 he founded St Kevin's soccer club in Dublin's Whitehall, one of the most successful in the country. He helped it expand into one of the largest of its kind in Europe, fielding over 40 competitive teams a week.
Boys from St Kevin's lined the steps of the Pro-Cathedral on Monday night as his coffin was carried out. While it lay before the altar at the Pro-Cathedral during the requiem Mass, it had just two objects placed on it, Dr Williams's mitre and a St Kevin's jersey.
In 1980 he was appointed chairman of the Catholic Social Service Conference, now known as Crosscare, the invaluable social care agency of the Dublin archdiocese. Under Dr Williams, the agency was modernised, updated and expanded, providing help to the poor and marginalised in the city. He had the job for 10 years, though originally appointed for three.
He also had a particular interest in helping the Travelling community and towards that end he set up Trudder House, a residential home for Travellers, in Newtownmountkennedy, Co Wicklow. He lived there himself for a while.
And where his fellow priests were concerned, he set up the Common Fund, which guaranteed them an equitable remuneration. He was also a kind and helpful pastor to them when it came to dealing with local difficulties.
He was responsible for getting the diocesan Share fund up and running. It continues to help the archdiocese fund the building of new churches and schools.
Sadly his health began to deteriorate, and over 12 years ago he asked Rome to accept his resignation as bishop. More recently, his hearing also deteriorated.
As Archbishop Martin observed: "He was someone who loved Jesus intensely but again with discretion and without show. He accepted his illness and growing physical weakness with admirable patience."
He was, Dr Martin said, "one who loved the poor and won the love of us all".
Dr Williams was born in Dún Laoghaire in 1930 and educated in the local Christian Brothers school at Eblana Avenue, before attending Clonliffe seminary in Dublin.
He was ordained in June 1955, became chaplain to Presentation College, Bray, and taught at the vocational school there for a year.
In 1958 he joined the staff at Archbishop's House in Drumcondra and the following year became secretary to Dr McQuaid. Under Archbishop Dermot Ryan he was given responsibility for the archdiocese's finances and pastoral development and helped to set up the Share fund in 1974.
In 1976 he was appointed episcopal vicar for finance in the archdiocese. Nine years later he was appointed titular bishop of Summa and auxiliary bishop of Dublin.
Just five years on, in 1990, but after 30 years in the central administration of the archdiocese, he asked to be relieved of his principal responsibilities to devote more time to pastoral work.
He had served as chairman of the archdiocese's committee for parish development and renewal and was president of the Irish Bishops' Council for Social Welfare.
He was also a member of their pastoral emigrant and finance commissions.
In December 1993 he tendered his resignation as auxiliary bishop to Rome, due to ill health, but continued to visit prisons and kept an active interest in penal reform issues.
As Dr Martin said, "he worked for a better, more just, more tolerant, more respectful society." He died in the Holy Family Residence, Roebuck Road in Dublin.
Dr Williams is survived by his brother Kieran, sisters-in-law Dina and Marie, nieces and nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews.
Bishop Desmond Williams: born April 19th, 1930; died February 24th, 2006