Legendary comic book creator Stan Lee was laid to rest on Friday in a small, private funeral.
According to a statement issued by Lee’s own POW! Entertainment, a ceremony was conducted in accordance with the writer’s wishes that he didn’t want to have a large, public service.
“As we all continue to process our feelings of loss at the passing of a true legend, many are asking if there will be a memorial in Stan’s honor,” POW!’s statement read. “Stan was always adamant that he did not want a large public funeral, and as such his family has conducted a private closed ceremony in accordance with his final wishes.
“Our thoughts and prayers continue to be with them.”
Though the ceremony was closed to the public, social media has been flooding with tributes from Lee’s legions of fans and associates reflecting on the man and his influence. Among the many familiar figures to share their thoughts on the late publisher’s passing is Marvel Studios head Kevin Feige, who recalled how Lee had an infectious energy that he’d bring to the set whenever he was filming one of his trademark cameos.
“It would be a holiday on set, when he came to do this cameos. That’s how much he inspired people. Whether it was the beginning of the shoot, the middle, the end, the energy would skyrocket when he came on the set. Those are my strongest memories,” recalled Feige. “And as much as we and the audience love the cameos, Stan loved and was so proud of every one.”
Hugh Jackman recalled much the same spark in the man when the X-Men star appeared on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, describing Lee as “a true gentleman that had this glint in his eye.” Chris Evans, meanwhile, tweeted a couple of days ago that the writer “exuded love and kindness.”
Outside of the Marvel brand, Dwayne Johnson took to Instagram with a photo of himself and Lee, along with a caption recalling how the writer gave him “very sage advice on navigating a career” in the actor’s early Hollywood days. Aquaman star Jason Momoa, meanwhile, shared a video of the time he met Lee, praising the late legend as “a beautiful man.”
Though Stan Lee is no longer with us, it’s clear that he’s left his mark on many a fan, and so long as his creations keep finding new stories on the page and the screen, his presence in pop culture will surely remain.
