A Marine honor guard stands beside people attend a public memorial in honor of slain U.S. Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens in the rotunda of City Hall in San Francisco, Tuesday, Oct. 16, 2012. Stevens, 52, and three other Americans were killed Sept. 11 when gunmen attacked the United States Mission in Benghazi, Libya. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg) (Photo: )
Hundreds of mourners, including family, friends and international dignitaries, gathered in the rotunda at San Francisco's City Hall Tuesday afternoon to celebrate the life of former U.S. Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens, killed in a terrorist attack on the American consulate in Libya last month.
The tribute included speeches and remembrances from more than a dozen family members, former colleagues and friends.
"Christopher Stevens stood out as extraordinary in an already extraordinary group of people," said former Secretary of State George P. Shultz. "Democracy is not a spectator sport, and Christopher Stevens was a full participant in his beloved democracy."
A Bay Area native, Stevens grew up in Piedmont and attended UC Berkeley and UC Hastings Law School before pursuing a career in the foreign service. Loved ones were quick to point to his devotion to his family.
"He's always been with me, he was my most important mentor," said his younger sister, Anne Stevens Sullivan, who described fond memories of her brother's attentive visits home. "The world needs a lot more big brothers like Chris Stevens."
Stevens' affable, generous nature extended to his career. Ali Suleiman Aujali, Libya's ambassador to the United States, praised the slain dignitary's ability to connect with potentially threatening figures abroad, telling a story of how he once offered to buy coffee for two of late Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi's henchmen.
"You see, this is the kind of diplomat we need in the world," Aujali said. "He didn't protest to the minister of foreign affairs - he became friends with them."
Aujali added that the Libyan people were deeply saddened by Stevens' killing.
"You sent us your best diplomat, but unfortunately we were not able to protect him," he said. "I am sorry we were not able to protect him."
Take a look at images from the memorial below:
A Marine honor guard stands beside people attend a public memorial in honor of slain U.S. Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens in the rotunda of City Hall in San Francisco, Tuesday, Oct. 16, 2012. Stevens, 52, and three other Americans were killed Sept. 11 when gunmen attacked the United States Mission in Benghazi, Libya. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg)
From left, the family of slain U.S. Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens, Tom Stevens, Anne Stevens Sullivan, M.D., and Hilary Stevens Koziol, M.D. speak about their brother during a public memorial in the rotunda at City Hall in San Francisco, Tuesday, Oct. 16, 2012. Stevens, 52, and three other Americans were killed Sept. 11 when gunmen attacked the United States Mission in Benghazi, Libya. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg)
People listen to Ali Suleiman Aujali, the Libyan Ambassador to the United States during a public memorial in honor of slain U.S. Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens in the rotunda at City Hall in San Francisco, Tuesday, Oct. 16, 2012. Stevens, 52, and three other Americans were killed Sept. 11 when gunmen attacked the United States Mission in Benghazi, Libya. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg)
From left, the family of slain U.S. Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens, Tom Stevens, Anne Stevens Sullivan, M.D., and Hilary Stevens Koziol, M.D., embrace after speaking about their brother during a public memorial in the rotunda at City Hall in San Francisco, Tuesday, Oct. 16, 2012. Stevens, 52, and three other Americans were killed Sept. 11 when gunmen attacked the United States Mission in Benghazi, Libya. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg)
Ali Suleiman Aujali
Ali Suleiman Aujali, the Libyan Ambassador to the United States, speaks during a public memorial in honor of slain U.S. Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens in the rotunda at City Hall in San Francisco, Tuesday, Oct. 16, 2012. Stevens, 52, and three other Americans were killed Sept. 11 when gunmen attacked the United States Mission in Benghazi, Libya. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg)
People listen to Ali Suleiman Aujali, the Libyan Ambassador to the United States during a public memorial in honor of slain U.S. Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens in the rotunda at City Hall in San Francisco, Tuesday, Oct. 16, 2012. Stevens, 52, and three other Americans were killed Sept. 11 when gunmen attacked the United States Mission in Benghazi, Libya. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg)
Gordon Getty
Gordon Getty of San Francisco attends a public memorial in honor of slain U.S. Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens in the rotunda at City Hall in San Francisco, Tuesday, Oct. 16, 2012. Stevens, 52, and three other Americans were killed Sept. 11 when gunmen attacked the United States Mission in Benghazi, Libya. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg)
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