Former Phillies chairman David Montgomery has passed away after a lengthy battle with cancer. Montgomery spent nearly 50 years working for the Phils, rising to become the team’s general partner, president and CEO in 1997. He led the team as it moved into Citizens Bank Park in 2004 and then captured its second World Series title four years later.

Montgomery was known not only as a successful executive, but also as someone who shared deep connections with those around him – no matter their rank in the organization. The following are a selection of quotes from members of the Phillies and Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred as they honored Montgomery’s legacy Wednesday morning:

• Phillies managing partner John Middleton: “Today’s a really hard day, and a painfully sad one -- beginning with the Phillies family, but extending to Philadelphia. But also, entwined with this sorrow, there should be rejoicing. This is a man who lived a great life. He was an example to all of us. We should all be grateful that David was in our lives, and for all the ways he touched us personally and thousands of other people.

"He’s accomplished something that no one else has in the history of Philadelphia -- he was successful, and he was loved by everyone.”

• Jim and Pete Buck on behalf of the Buck family: “For the past 38 years, the Buck family enjoyed a very special relationship with David. Beginning with Bill Buck, who was there at the inception of our partnership with our fathers, to our generation and our children’s, what started as a business venture transformed over the years into a deep friendship and a profound level of respect for David. His management style, his extensive knowledge and love of the game, and his overall care and compassion for everyone with whom he came in contact are just a few of the reasons why he captivated three generations of our family. Along with the entire baseball world, we are mourning this tremendous loss. We will miss David’s guidance, but we know that through the impact that he has made on so many in the Phillies family, his legacy will live on.”

• Commissioner Manfred: “I am deeply saddened on the passing of my dear friend David Montgomery. David was a first-class representative of his hometown team, the Philadelphia Phillies, for nearly half a century. He never forgot his days as a fan at Connie Mack Stadium, and he carried those lessons to Veterans Stadium and Citizens Bank Park. David’s approach to running the franchise and serving its fans was to treat everyone like family. He set an outstanding example in Philadelphia and throughout our game.”

• Former Phillies owner Ruly Carpenter: “From the first time I met Dave years ago, I knew that he was destined to become a top executive in the baseball world. Little did I know that he someday would be the president of the Phillies. Stephanie and I pray for Lyn and his family during this time.”

• Phillies chairman emeritus Bill Giles: “David was truly a great man. I have never known a person with more integrity or who truly cared so much about everyone who worked for the Phillies. He and I worked hand-in-hand for over 30 years. During that time, I saw his unparalleled love for his family, the Phillies and the team’s fans, and of course, the City of Philadelphia. David was a big reason why the Phillies won 12 division championships, five National League championships and two World Series championships in that time. He was a fierce competitor in everything he did, including his battle to fight his illness. He will be tremendously missed by all who had the pleasure of knowing him.”

• Former Phillies chief operating officer Mike Stiles: “I was blessed to have had David as a dear friend for almost my entire life. As everyone who knew him knows, he was an extraordinary human being. In addition to his legendary kindness, warmth and integrity, he was just more fun to be with than anyone I’ve ever known. It was an absolute joy to be around him. My life has been incredibly enriched because of him. It has been recalled that when Harry Kalas died, David said that the Phillies had lost their voice. One could say that the Phillies have lost their heart and soul today, but because his impact is so great - his legacy is so enduring - we will really have that heart and soul forever.”

• Phillies senior advisor Pat Gillick: "Today, everyone who knew David Montgomery is feeling a profound loss. He was a humble man whose management style was to treat all employees in the manner that you would like to be treated. He only wanted the best for everyone in the Phillies organization, for their families and for the team's fans. I am honored to have worked closely with him during my time with the Phillies. Doris and I send our condolences to Lyn and the entire Montgomery family."

• Former Phillies manager Charlie Manuel: “David was someone who was very dedicated to his work and to the people in this organization, and the people of Philadelphia. But from what I saw from the last couple years with his health, I’ve got to say David was a big fighter. I admire everything about him because all he wanted to do was come to work and be around the people he liked. The only things that mattered to him were other people and his family.”

• Phillies club ambassador and former second baseman Mickey Morandini: “I loved that man so much. It was truly amazing how many lives David touched. I’d be with him and he’d stop a security guard, and he’d know the guard’s wife and children. And the same went with someone in the front office and with a custodian. He knew everyone’s spouse and children. It was utterly amazing.

"David is the reason I came back to the Phillies. I knew what kind of organization he ran and the relationships I had in this organization -- and David was the biggest part of that.”

• Phillies manager Gabe Kapler: “He had a pretty powerful impact on me, as he did everybody under this roof. Immediately he made me feel like family and made me feel like I was at home.

“He wanted us to focus on each other, picking each other up, caring for each other, and making the Phillies a winning organization. So that’s what we’ll do out of respect for him today.”

• Phillies first baseman Rhys Hoskins: “This guy cared about his community probably more than anything else in this world. Probably the heartbeat of this organization for the 50 years he was a part of it. Perseverance, obviously, with his fight against the sickness and disease that he had. Started as a ticket salesman at 26 and he worked his way up to team president.

“If that’s not fight, if that’s not determination, if that’s not perseverance then I don’t know what is. Obviously a very, very sad day for the city of Philadelphia, for this organization, for us as a team. Gone, but definitely not forgotten.”

• Former Phillies manager Larry Bowa: “He was like a father to me. This one hurts really, really bad. … Words can’t express what he meant to the organization and what he meant to me.

"If you were a Phillies ticket holder, David treated you like were the king. He made you feel like the greatest person in the world.

"He taught everybody how to act like a big leaguer -- on and off the field. I’ve been with the Dodgers, the Yankees and Seattle in coaching capacities. This is the top organization, in my mind.

“What we can do now for him is win a World Series for David this year. I think that would be the greatest thing in the world for him.”

• Former Phillies manager Terry Francona (currently managing Indians): "He was such a compassionate, kind, gentle man. For somebody that had such an important position in an organization, he was so quick to laugh, not just with you, but at himself. I’d rather celebrate a wonderful life lived. Because he was a wonderful person. ... I have no doubt today he’s playing on a golf course where the fairway’s greener and there's no rough and no sand traps. Because that certainly wasn’t the way he did it when he played before. But he was a really nice man."

• Former Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr.: “David epitomized and represented all that was family for the Phillies. His humility and kindness was something he showed to everyone he touched. His love of the game of baseball came through with everything he did and his goal to keep making the game great was infectious. His impact on mine and my family’s life was both personal and professional and I owe so much to him. My family and I will miss him deeply but his impact on our lives will be everlasting. My thoughts and prayers go out to Lyn and the rest of his family as well as the entire Phillies family.”

• Former Phillies general manager Ed Wade: “David led in a collegial manner, which made everyone feel he was ‘one of us.’ Whether interacting with the commissioner of baseball, an intern in the lunch room or a fan on the street who wanted to talk about the bullpen, David listened and cared. He loved his family, he loved his city, he loved his friends and he loved his Phillies.”