It took almost three hours to memorialize the man who published more than 30 books, was married six times, and had nine kids. They all spoke about their dad and recalled his appetites for everything from booze and boxing to oysters.

Son Stephen channeled his father literally, by doing his best Mailer imitation with the required four-letter words.

Also in attendance were the likes Tina Brown, Sean Penn and Joan Didion - who called her fellow writer Mailer, "ambitious to the point of vertigo."

The service wasn't only for the glitteratti though, Lou Gallo used to wait on Mailer at a restaurant called Nicole's.

GALLO: I gave him a front table where he could hold court, so he was very well liked in the place. He didn't take any guff from anybody, which I liked.

REPORTER: The service ended with an announcement of a writers colony in Mailer's longtime home, Provincetown, Mass.

For WNYC, I'm Kathleen Horan.