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Dana Reeve, the tragic and brave widow of paralyzed movie star Christopher Reeve, was fondly remembered yesterday during an emotional, star-studded tribute in Times Square.
"She was an exemplary, wonderful woman," said Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, one of more than 900 people who packed the New Amsterdam Theatre on 42nd Street.
"I admired her courage, taking care of Chris all those years."
Dana Reeve died of lung cancer last month at age 44 - only a year and a half after her beloved husband succumbed to complications of the devastating spinal-cord injury he suffered in a 1995 horse-riding accident.
For a decade, Dana had selflessly cared for the "Superman" star, who was paralyzed from the neck down and relied on an oxygen tube to breathe - a sacrifice on the minds of all who attended the private event.
"I never met anybody with so much heart and determination. Watching her, I realized I can still maintain my family," said actor Daryl Mitchell, who was paralyzed in a motorcycle accident.
"[She] had so many cruel blows, yet never gave in to pity," said CNN anchor Paula Zahn, a longtime pal.
Zahn said that after Dana was diagnosed with cancer in August, she focused "on how to create a world" to leave for Will, her 13-year-old son with Reeve, once she was gone. Despite that, "she really expected to come home," Zahn said. "She truly believed she had more time."
Will, along with Matthew and Alexandra Reeve, Christopher's kids from his first marriage, brought tears to the crowd as they appeared arm in arm outside the theater.
"Thank you," they said to the assembled.
Other notables there included Barbara Walters, Katie Couric, Joe Torre, Glenn Close, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Matthew Broderick, Susan Sarandon, Blythe Danner, Robert Kennedy Jr., Lance Armstrong, Kenneth Cole, Alec Baldwin, Mark Messier and Al Roker.
Supporters were asked to donate to the Christopher Reeve Foundation, which funds research into spinal-cord injuries.
tatiana.deligiannakis@nypost.com
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