[www.cnn.com]

Ed Koch, the brash former New York City mayor who typically greeted constituents with a "How'm I doin'?" died Friday at the age of 88, his spokesman said.

---

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/01/2013 07:15AM by Zoidberg.

In and out of the hospital recently, and what was reported here this week sounded bad: fluid accumulation that seemed to be intractable. When I heard that he'd been moved to intensive care yesterday, I figured it was the end.

On today, the 100th anniversary of Grand Central Station which he was instrumental in saving from Penn Station's fate.

---

Quote
jimbrady
On today, the 100th anniversary of Grand Central Station which he was instrumental in saving from Penn Station's fate.

Indeed. RIP. Good guy, and funny, too.

/Mr Lynn

PS Cover article on Grand Central in the February Trains magazine; also big story recently in the NYT.

---

"Hillbilly at Harvard"
Honky-tonk Country and Bluegrass
Founded in 1948 by Pappy Ben Minnich
Saturdays 9am - 1pm Eastern
WHRB-FM, Cambridge, MA
Streaming at [www.WHRB.org]
Be there!
New blog! [hillbillyatharvard.wordpress.com]

On the river in Saxonville.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/01/2013 09:08AM by mrlynn.

Koch's tombstone:


"My father is Jewish. My mother is Jewish, I am Jewish"
-Daniel Pearl, 2002, just before he was beheaded by a Muslim terrorist.

HEAR O ISRAEL, THE LORD OUR GOD, THE LORD IS ONE.

He was fiercely proud of his Jewish faith. He fiercely defended the City of New York, and he fiercely loved its people. Above all, he loved his country, the United States of America, in whose armed forces he served in World War II.

My media law professor was Koch's press liaison when he was in office. He told some great stories over beers after class.

RIP Mr. Mayor.

---

You can tell a lot about a woman by her hands...
- For example, if they are wrapped around your throat she's probably slightly upset.

Growing up around NYC in the late '70s and '80s, he simply was The Mayor. Other cities & towns probably had mayors but Ed Koch was The Mayor.

Lew,

I feel the same way. Except, I feel that way about each mayor of New York City. If someone says, "Do you know what The Mayor said" or "Do you know what The Mayor did?" I don't think of the mayor of my village which isn't even in the city limits. I think of the mayor of New York City.

Robert

Watched the funeral service on TV this morning. Funny and sad and wholly Koch-ian. After the service, the organ played "New York, New York," and the congregation responded with applause as the casket was carried down the aisle and out of the building.