The answer is an unequivocal yes, we should imitate esteemed Christians from the past, saints or what ever you prefer to call them.
Scripture tells us to do so. The apostle Paul wrote in the book of 1 Corinthians 4:16 calling the Corinthian believers to be followers or imitator of him. Again Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 11:1 saying, “imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ”
Of course, the main reason we should imitate the holy ones who came before us is that they all became holy/saintly by imitating Christ. It is Christ, first and foremost, whom they help us imitate, by showing how a life centered on Christ is possible anywhere in the world at any time in history.