Family, friends and some of the most influential people in the state and country gathered at Temple University on Wednesday to memorialize Lewis Katz, the millionaire businessman, Philadelphia Inquirer co-owner and philanthropist who died in a plane accident on Saturday night.

Friends and colleagues remembered Katz with anecdotes and tearful admiration for more than two hours, telling stories of his practical jokes, random acts of kindness and devotion to his children and grandchildren. Among the speakers were former President Bill Clinton, former Gov. Ed Rendell, Gov. Tom Corbett, Sen. Cory Booker, Inquirer editor William Marimow, author Doris Kearns Goodwin and even Bill Cosby (in part for comic relief). Katz's son, daughter and grandson also eulogized their father and grandfather.

Katz grew up in Camden and attended Temple University — those are two of the places where he invested many of his philanthropic efforts, including the construction of two Boys and Girls Clubs and a recent $25 million commitment to Temple's medical school.