Funeral Held For Former Knicks Star Dean 'The Dream' Meminger
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Family and friends gathered in Upper Manhattan to bid a final farewell to former New York Knicks player Dean "The Dream" Meminger.
Meminger was found dead in a Hamilton Heights hotel room last Friday. He was 65.
The funeral mass at St, Charles Borromeo Church on West 141st Street in Harlem was a celebration of Meminger's life.
Funeral Held For Former Knicks Star Dean 'The Dream' Meminger
His No. 7 jersey was hung up on one of the altars and photographs showing Meminger at Rice High School, Marquette University and in the NBA were displayed throughout the chapel, 1010 WINS' Al Jones reported.
A video tribute was also played at the end of the service.
Teammates Bill Bradley and Earl "The Pearl" Monroe, former Knicks players John Starks and Charles Smith, as well as director Spike Lee were among those in attendance.
"It's a real shock and a loss," Bradley said. "All of his teammates feel it."
"We remember the man that he was and the spirit that he brought to his family as well to his community and to the Knicks organization," Starks said.
Meminger played a key role on the Knicks' 1973 NBA championship team.
The point guard averaged 6.1 points in six seasons with the Knicks and Atlanta Hawks. A former New York City prep star at Rice High School, Meminger led Marquette to a 78-9 mark in three varsity seasons, averaging 18.8 points. He averaged 21.2 points as a senior in 1970-71 and was drafted 16th overall by the Knicks.
Meminger had short coaching stints with the New York Stars in the Women's Basketball League, the Albany Patroons in the CBA and the Long Island Knights in the USBL. He coached Manhattanville College in 2003-04.
He will be buried at Woodlawn Cemetery in the Bronx.
You May Also Be Interested In These Stories:
(TM and © Copyright 2013 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2013 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
