The guardians, about 150 in all, included aides from his early campaigns in the 1960s and young people who had just joined his staff, an extended family of sorts that, in recent days, bore witness to his impact on the public, even in death. "Just to see the people, the emotion, the number of people in wheelchairs and canes and walkers, children," said Gene Dellea of West Stockbridge, another old campaign aide.