Shultz Among Mourners at Casey’s Wake

Secretary of State George P. Shultz was among about 100 mourners who attended a Thursday afternoon wake for former CIA director William J. Casey, who died Wednesday.

The body of Casey, 74, who died of pneumonia early Wednesday in the Community Hospital at Glen Cove, lay in a coffin in the parlor of his Tudor-style home, “Mayknoll,” on Glenwood Road in exclusive Roslyn Harbor.

Shultz and his wife arrived at the house in a seven-car motorcade, which included a large number of security officials.

The couple were greeted at the door by Casey’s widow, Sophia. The Shultzes remained in the house for about 20 minutes, and then left with all of the people in the motorcade.

News Media Excluded

Secret Service and CIA officials, assisted by Nassau County police, asked for identification of all people entering the expansive grounds of the harbor-front home.

The news media were not permitted on the fenced-in grounds. Security officers stood at the entrance to the driveway, which is flanked by large stone pillars, and screened all visitors.

Casey’s death from pneumonia, brought on by complications from a brain tumor, came the day after retired Air Force Maj. Gen. Richard V. Secord told joint congressional Iran- contra hearings that he met three times with Casey and discussed efforts to supply military aid to the Nicaraguan rebels when such aid was prohibited by Congress.

Casey testified last year before three congressional committees investigating the Iran-contra scandal before suffering two seizures on Dec. 15 at CIA headquarters in Langley, Va.

He underwent surgery for brain cancer three days later in Washington and was hospitalized until mid-February, returning for more treatment in mid-March. Casey resigned as director of Central Intelligence because of his failing health.