Departures

Mylon LeFevre

LeFevre, a Grammy-winning gospel performer whose twisting path through secular and religious music ultimately led him back to God, died Sept. 8. He was 78. LeFevre grew up in a popular gospel music family and caught a break at age 17 when Elvis Presley heard him perform an original gospel tune. Presley recorded the song, paving LeFevre’s way in the music business. By the 1970s, LeFevre traded religious music for Southern rock and developed a heroin addiction. A decade later, he had overcome his drug addiction and rededicated his life to God and Christian-themed music. In later years, LeFevre gave up music, preaching prosperity gospel messages for Kenneth Copeland’s television network.

Howard Safir

A lifetime law enforcement officer and New York City police commissioner who helped bring order to Gotham’s streets, Safir died Sept. 11. He was 81. Safir began his career working narcotics cases in New York for the federal ­government. After a stint with the U.S. Marshals Service, Safir accepted a call from then-Mayor Rudy Giuliani to become the city’s fire commissioner. He became New York’s top cop in 1996. By the end of Safir’s term in 2000, the city’s murder rate had fallen to its lowest level since 1964. While commissioner, Safir had NYPD cruisers painted with the words “Courtesy, Professionalism & Respect.” The enduring motto still appears on the city’s police cars.