The public and media clamored to share John F. Kennedy Jr.'s private moment Sunday. Amid the pain and pressure, a glum-looking Kennedy sought a brief escape: roller-skating, with actress Daryl Hannah, past the church where his mother's funeral will be held.
The church is about six blocks from the apartment where Kennedy's mother, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, lived since 1964 and where her wake was held Sunday evening.The son of President Kennedy gave photographers, perched outside the Church of St. Ignatius Loyola, but an instant to react as he and Hannah sped past at midmorning.
Hours later, John and his sister, Caroline Kennedy Schlossberg, arrived for the wake at Mrs. Onassis' Fifth Avenue home, hounded by four dozen photographers and reporters. Hannah arrived later, and then Mrs. Onassis' sister, Lee Radziwill, who wore a white outfit and a polite smile.
By 6 p.m., nearly 800 New Yorkers had gathered outside. Inside were U.S. Sen. Edward Kennedy, who arrived with wife, Victoria; Eunice and Sargent Shriver; the Shrivers' daughter Maria and her husband, Arnold Schwarzenegger; singer Carly Simon; Diane Sawyer and her husband, director Mike Nichols; Ethel Kennedy, her daughter, Kerry, and son-in-law, Andrew Cuomo; William Kennedy Smith; Robert F. Kennedy Jr.; and designer Carolina Herrera.
Some of the guests congregated on the balcony outside the 15th-floor apartment. When John Kennedy acknowledged the onlookers with a wave, one well-wisher called up, "We're sorry, John!" Later, he waved again and the crowed below began chanting, "We love Jackie!"
On Monday, Kennedy and his sister plan to speak briefly at their mother's funeral. Their uncle, Edward Kennedy, will give the main eulogy, said family spokeswoman Nancy Tuckerman. Mrs. Onassis' longtime companion, Maurice Tempelsman, and Nichols also are to speak.
She will be buried Monday at Arlington National Cemetery, where President Kennedy also is buried.
President Clinton planned to speak at the burial service, but only his wife would attend the the funeral because Clinton's attendance would conflict with the family's wish to keep the service private, a White House spokeswoman said.
On Sunday, the third day after her death, several dozen bouquets were placed at the door of Mrs. Onassis apartment building, including a single peony, a flower that Dr. Sonia Lopez had heard was a favorite of the former first lady.
"There was something she gave to us that was very magical," said Lopez, a New Yorker. "I felt I loved her in some way I don't understand."
New Yorker Barbara Ann sat across the street on a park bench, trying to guess on which floor Mrs. Onassis had lived.
"I believe she's on top," Ann said. "Now, she's still on top. She's in heaven. She's still looking down."
A double-decker sightseeing bus stopped and the tourists photographed the building, the 30 reporters behind police barricades, and the several dozen spectators who stood as if waiting for a parade.
The barricade flock included Martha Gustine, who did not mind that she would not be allowed inside for the wake.
"She went through hell and made it," Gustine told fellow spectators. She observed that Mrs. Onassis had left the hospital when doctors could do no more.
"I respect the way she went," said Gustine.
"This is classy. She came home."