On Thursday January 1, 2015, New York City lost one of its most influential leaders. Former New York governor Mario Cuomo died on Thursday at the age of 82.
In November, Cuomo was being treated for a heart condition, and was rushed to the hospital the day after he attended a victory party for his son, who won re-election for becoming the governor once again. Cuomo would die this New Years day from a heart condition that corresponded with the heart condition he had faced just two months ago. Mario passed in his home, where he was receiving hospice care.
Cuomo was governor of New York for three terms, and lieutenant governor of New York from 1979 to 1982. He was also an opinionated liberal, and was up for presidential nomination in 1988 and in 1992.
Mario was too ill to attend the ceremony were his son was sworn back into office, but his son Andrew, made a point to state the influence his father had on him in his statement below;
“He couldn’t be here physically today, my father, but my father is in this room. He is in the heart and mind of every person who is here. He is here and he is here, and his inspiration and his legacy and his experience is what has brought this state to this point. So let’s give him a round of applause.”
Current New Jersey Governor Chris Christie tweeted his regards and paid respects by saying, “Our country and our region lost a giant today with the passing of Governor Mario Cuomo,” and “He was a strong, eloquent leader who loved New York and its people. As an Italian-American, he was also a role model for future generations that anything was possible through hard work and education.”
Photo : Ron Galella
