Former U.S. Rep. Barney Frank, who died on Tuesday, was indeed a hero who helped save the U.S. economy from total collapse during the 2008 financial crisis. At the Globe, former U.S. Sen. Chris Dodd (of Dodd-Frank Act fame) remembers working side-by-side with Barney, then the chair of the powerful House Financial Services Committee, during those incredibly tense times. Meanwhile, Dan Kennedy bemoans the passing of Frank amid today’s array of financial-sector worries and woes – and how “there isn’t a Barney Frank in sight.”

As for the 2008 financial crisis, I covered those historic events as a business reporter for the Boston Herald and regularly talked to Frank several times a week amid all the political and media chaos. I was always amazed that one of the busiest and most influential men on the planet actually returned my calls, as he did for other Boston reporters, out of a sense of local loyalty (or at least that’s how I perceived it.) I was also always amazed at his brilliant grasp of the issues and ability to quickly summarize what was at stake and where he stood.

But Barney was also a first-class curmudgeon – and he knew it and didn’t care. He didn’t suffer fools. I’d actually get nervous whenever he called and started off the conversation with a gruff: “It’s Barney. I’m busy. Make it quick.” And you had better be prepared to rattle off the questions quick or he’d get angry. (One Herald colleague swears Barney told him the last time they talked “I never liked you.”) But he always called back, no matter how disastrous the previous interview and no matter if you worked at the Herald. (Gee, I can’t imagine why he’d hate the Herald.) And that transparency was especially key during those dramatic autumn days in 2008.

Known for his quick wit and legislative skills, Barney Frank will be remembered favorably for a lot of things – his time at City Hall, the State House, and the U.S. House, as well as the fact that he was the first member of Congress to voluntarily come out as gay. But for my money, Frank, a liberal’s liberal, should be remembered most for his work during the 2008 financial crisis – and helping save our economic system from ruin.