DAYTON — A quorum of the city’s old guard gathered at Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Church Friday, April 23 to bid farewell to a long-time colleague and friend, former Dayton City Commissioner Richard Zimmer.

Zimmer, 77, died Monday after a long battle with lung cancer.

Former Dayton Mayor Richard Clay Dixon and former commissioners Abner Orick and Anthony Capizzi, who served on the commission with Zimmer, were among several hundred who attended the service.

Dixon fondly recalled campaigning for commission with Zimmer, as a team.

“Some white politicians would campaign with black politicians in west Dayton, then go to east Dayton and ignore them. Dick wasn’t like that,” Dixon said. “He would never turn his back on me. When he said he would do something, his word was his bond.”

Zimmer served on the city commission from 1978 to 1985. He was defeated by Capizzi in 1986, but rejoined the City Commission five years later. He served again from 2002 to 2005.

Zimmer was a Democrat and Orick a Republican, but that difference in political ideology never interfered with their friendship or their efforts on behalf of the city.

“He was a good family man and a good friend. If we had more people like him, it would be a wonderful world,” Orick said.

City Commissioner Nan Whaley ran for office the first time as Zimmer ended his political career.

“He campaigned with me,” Whaley said. “I wouldn’t be here now if it weren’t for him.”

A procession led by police vehicles and Fire Engine No. 15, escorted Zimmer’s body to Calvary Cemetery. Along the way, the motorcade made a brief stop at City Hall.

“He was always there for the entire Dayton community, westside, eastside, north and south,” Mary E. Taylor, coordinator for the Innerwest Priority Board said, “He really took to heart the dreams and the concerns of city employees.”

Mona Jordan, typist in the city’s Office of Citizen Participation, stood with arms clasped as the hearse slowly passed City Hall.

“He was an everybody, every man,” Jordan said. “He will be missed.”