Alexander L. Cummings, who stepped down last week as clerk of the Court of Appeals after more than 25 years, died Tuesday morning at his home in Towson after a long illness. He was 66.

Chief Judge Robert M. Bell announced Cummings' death from the bench at the 10 a.m. start of Tuesday's court session. Bell praised Cummings' long service and his courage in continuing to work during much of the past year despite his terminal illness, which the court did not disclose.

"For more than 25 years, Alex served the court with distinction," Bell said in a prepared statement released by the court's public information office. "Over the years, Alex was commended by members of the bar for his guidance and for his steady stewardship of the clerk's office. "

Nearly every Maryland attorney sworn in during the past quarter-century has Cummings' signature on his or her bar certificate as clerk of the court.

Cummings was appointed clerk by the Court of Appeals on March 2, 1983. He continued until recent months to report to his fourth-floor office at the Robert C. Murphy Courts of Appeal Building in Annapolis.

His last official day was March 31. Cummings was succeeded on April 1 by Bessie M. Decker, who had served as his chief deputy since 1999.

"He wasn't just my boss," Decker said. "He was my friend, my dear friend. "

Decker recalled that she and Cummings "had a very good working relationship. "

Cummings wanted the clerk's staff "to strive for perfection always ... but he gave us that room to do our jobs without having him look over us," Decker said. "He was a good teacher. "

"All of us here in the [clerk's] office are really grieving because we're all going to really miss him," she added.

The clerk's duties include overseeing the docket, receiving briefs and transcripts associated with cases, and keeping official custody of court decisions. The clerk serves at the pleasure of the Court of Appeals.

Before becoming the Court of Appeals' 25th clerk, Cummings had served in the Maryland attorney general's office as chief deputy of the criminal appeals and correctional litigation division. He argued more than 700 criminal appeals before the U.S. Supreme Court, the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, the Maryland Court of Appeals and the state's Court of Special Appeals, Bell stated.

"It is no wonder he was such an asset to the Court of Appeals and to members of the bar who argued before the court," Bell added.

Funeral arrangements have not yet been announced, the court reported.