CANTON -- A one-time North Country congressional candidate and well-respected emeritus professor was stricken and died Saturday as he helped prepare music for Christmas services at St. Mary’s Church.

Bernard James Lammers, 82, will be remembered by many as a dedicated and inspirational teacher and public servant and civic and community leader.

Calling hours to honor his memory will be at the O'Leary Funeral Home in Canton on Sunday, Dec. 28 from 3 to 6 p.m. The funeral Mass will be held at Saint Mary's Church in Canton at 11 a.m. Dec. 29.

Donations may be made to Hospice of St. Lawrence Valley and to Catholic Charities.

Lammers, born in Louisville, Ky., entered a seminary at age 13. He earned a social sciences master’s degree from Georgetown University before embarking on a career in public law and government, both as a practitioner and teacher, with institutions as varied as the National Security Agency, the Association for International Development, and St. Lawrence University.

When his doctoral studies in American government at Columbia University were complete, he joined the faculty of St. Lawrence University, serving as a professor of public law and government for 39 years, retiring in 2005, according to a statement from SLU President William Fox.

Along the way he earned a law degree from the University of Chicago, worked as a Project Director for the American Bar Foundation in Chicago, advised many SLU students, and authored numerous publications.

In 1984, Lammers ran as the Democratic candidate in the North Country’s 26th Congressional District, losing to Republican David Martin, who won his second term that year.

He also served as lector, cantor, organist and catechist at Saint Mary's parish in Canton, and as organist at the Saint Thomas Moore parish.

“Bernie’s faith, his scholarship, and his commitment to the public good prompted many insightful communications to the St. Lawrence community, always motivated by his desire to elevate our discourse and encourage our deeper reflection of our capacity to serve.,” Fox wrote in a statement to the SLU community.

“I also deeply admired Bernie for the order he sought in human ideas, which, for those who were once his students and friends, was readily accompanied by his wisdom that in the mystery of life itself not everything could be explained,” Fox said.

Lammers is survived by his wife, photographer Jane Lammers of Canton.