Former New York mayor Ed Koch died Friday morning, hours after being admitted to intensive care in a New York City hospital.
Koch, who served as mayor between 1978 and 1989, died about 2:00 a.m. from congestive heart failure, according to the Associated Press.
The Bronx native was admitted to the hospital Monday to treat a fluid buildup in his lungs that was causing a shortness of breath.
Yesterday, Koch’s condition worsened and he was moved to the intensive care unit at New York Presbyterian/Columbia.
His funeral will be held Monday at Temple Emanu-El, the AP reported.
The news sparked an outpouring of condolences from officials and political luminaries across the city Friday.
“Earlier today, New York City lost an irrepressible icon,” Mayor Michael Bloomberg said in a statement.
“We will miss him dearly, but his good works and his wit and wisdom will forever be a part of the city he loved so much. He was a great mayor, a great man, and a great friend.”
Koch, a Democrat, began his political career as a City Councilman before becoming a Congressman, then mayor. He is credited with helping pull New York from the brink of economic collapse during his tenure at City Hall.
After serving as mayor, Koch worked as a professor, lawyer, radio host and commentator. He appeared as a judge on “The People’s Court” and even hosted an online movie review show.
Until his recent illness, he appeared regularly on television as one of NY1’s “Wiseguys” and continued to write movie reviews and political commentaries.
“He never stopped being a part of the fabric of New York. He authored 14 books, wrote movie reviews and political commentary and was, of course, one of the wisest guys on NY1,” said former Metropolitan Transportation Authority chairman Joseph Lhota.
“We will never forget his valuable contributions to the city, nor his wonderful sense of humor.”
The former mayor will be remembered in Bronx for helping to rebuild its burned-out neighborhoods.
Koch’s landmark $5.4 billion housing program helped provide jobs and created some 150,000 units of affordable housing in arson-devastated areas like Harlem, Bushwick and South Bronx.
