Mario Cuomo Dead at 82

Just hours after Andrew Cuomo was sworn in at the Freedom Tower in New York City, his father the former governor Mario Cuomo passed away due to heart failure. Andrew Cuomo said in his speech that his father was not able to attend but was there in spirit. Little did he know his father would pass on hours later.

Mario Cuomo served three terms as governor of New York. He was born of Italian immigrants and was a big name politician in the liberal arm of the Democratic party.  Cuomo worked hard to balance the budget in New York state during times of recession and often criticized "Reaganomics" as the cause for the economic injustices the poor faced as the rich got richer.  He is believed to have coined the phrase "tale of 2 cities" which mayor Di Blasio ran on during his mayoral campaign in New York City.  As with most Catholic politicians of today, Cuomo was against abortion but for it.  He believed abortion was wrong, but fought hard for women to have "choice" rights.  He described himself as a devout Catholic even saying at Notre Dame, “The Catholic Church is my spiritual home. My heart is there, and my hope.”



 

I will update this post as I learn more*

UPDATE Jan. 2, 2015

Mario Cuomo died just five hours after listening to his son's speech during his inauguration.  He died of complications of the heart.










Source:
http://news.yahoo.com/ex-ny-gov-mario-cuomo-famed-oratory-dies-021513297.html

http://www.cnn.com/2015/01/01/us/mario-cuomo-dies-new-york-governor/index.html?hpt=hp_t1

http://time.com/3652656/mario-cuomo-abortion-catholic/

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/02/nyregion/mario-cuomo-new-york-governor-and-liberal-beacon-dies-at-82.html?_r=0

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/mario-cuomo-final-moments-spent-listening-son-speeches-article-1.2064431