Friends, loved ones and well-wishers were waiting for Ted Kennedy outside the hospital in Boston where he's been since Saturday.  As he left for the family compound on Cape Cod, others are remembering Kennedy's appearances here in the Valley.

Former State Sen. Harry Meshel has known Kennedy for nearly fifty years, back to the days when his brother John was running for President.  Kennedy came to the Valley in 1980 to support Meshel's Congressional campaign.  He returned a number of years later to endorse another Valley politician.  Wednesday, State Rep. Bob Hagan says Kennedy's renowned wealth runs counter to some of the issues he champions.

Hagan, who's known Kennedy since the late 60's, says there is a side of the Senator most would never know, saying Kennedy had a sense of humor, often poking fun at himself as well as others, but "in a very kind way."

Most recently, Kennedy returned to the Valley again in February, this time stumping for Barack Obama for President.  Youngstown mayor Jay Williams introduced him to the crowd that day, calling Kennedy "genuine" and "down to earth."

And even though Meshel is now supporting Hillary Clinton, his fondness for Kennedy remains, telling us, "you cannot lose your respect for people who have done good things for most of their lives."