MSNBC's Mika Brzezinski reports that Ed Koch, the former three-term mayor of New York City, died of congestive heart failure, at the age of 88.
By Ian Johnston, Staff Writer, NBC News
Former New York Mayor Ed Koch died early Friday at age 88, his spokesman said.
The larger-than-life Democrat served three terms in the post until January 1990.
He had struggled with heart disease and other health problems in recent years.
Mayor Michael Bloomberg said in a statement that the city had lost ?an irrepressible icon, our most charismatic cheerleader and champion.?
?He was a great mayor, a great man, and a great friend. In elected office and as a private citizen, he was our most tireless, fearless, and guileless civic crusader,? he said.
?Through his tough, determined leadership and responsible fiscal stewardship, Ed helped lift the city out of its darkest days and set it on course for an incredible comeback,? he said.
?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. His spirit will live on not only here at City Hall, and not only on the bridge the bears his name, but all across the five boroughs,? he added.
Bloomberg said flags would fly at half-staff at all city government buildings in his memory.?
The Associated Press noted that the "combative, acid-tongued" politician became a symbol of New York:
Bald and bombastic, paunchy and pretentious, the city's 105th mayor was quick with a friendly quip and equally fast with a cutting remark for his political enemies.
"You punch me, I punch back," Koch once memorably observed. "I do not believe it's good for one's self-respect to be a punching bag."
The mayor dismissed his critics as "wackos," waged verbal war with developer Donald Trump ("piggy") and mayoral successor Rudolph Giuliani ("nasty man"), lambasted the Rev. Jesse Jackson, and once reduced the head of the City Council to tears.
"I'm not the type to get ulcers," he wrote in "Mayor," his autobiography. "I give them."
Reverend Al Sharpton, president of National Action Network and a host on MSNBC, said in a statement that he had been one of Koch?s ?most vociferous critics."
?We later united and worked together around the country in a national campaign for non-violent drug offenders to give them a second chance in life and we ended up getting to know and understand each other,? he said.
?Although we argued about everything from my marching in Bensonhurst, to Florida and Trayvon Martin, and although we disagreed on politics from his views on President Obama to other matters, I have found that he was never a phony or a hypocrite,? he said.
?He would not patronize or deceive you. He said what he meant. He meant what he said. He fought for what he believed. May he rest in peace,? he added.
Koch was hospitalized in September with anemia and in December with a respiratory infection, NBCNewYork.com reported.
He was admitted to hospital on Jan. 19, but was released Saturday after being treated for water in his lungs and legs.
He was then readmitted to NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia hospital on Monday.
Koch's spokesman George Arzt said the former mayor died around 2 a.m. ET Friday of congestive heart failure.
A funeral service will be held on Monday.
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