Ed Koch, Dies [VIDEO]: Beloved Former New York City Mayor Died at 88 from Heart Failure

Ed Koch, former New York City mayor, has died this morning from congestive heart failure at the age of 88 years old. Admitted to a New York City hospital for shortness of breath on Monday, he was moved to Intensive Care on Thursday. Koch has been battling heart disease ever since leaving office in 1990. He served three terms as NYC mayor starting in 1977. As he came into his first term of office, the city was trying to recover from a bankruptcy bailout, a terrible and infamous blackout, and a crisis in crime and looting. Koch soon implemented the ideals of law and order in city that clearly needed it. Though there was a spike in drugs and crime during Koch's terms as mayor, Koch cleaned up many of the city's services that needed improvement, most notably the New York City Subway system.

Born in the Bronx and then growing up in Newark, New Jersey, Ed Koch was raised in a Conservative Jewish family. He was drafted into the United States Army in 1943 and earned two Battle Stars for his service. Upon his return, he became a successful New York City lawyer and then graduated to politics in the 1960s. Koch became the Democratic Party leader of the district and then served on the New York City Council from 1967 to 1969. He became a Democratic US Representative from 1969 to 1977 when he resigned to run for Mayor of New York City. Koch was also a judge on the television show The People's Court from 1977 to 1999.

Ed Koch was no stranger to controversy thanks in part to his nature to speak his mind. This caused him to lose his fourth re-election attempt in 1989. Koch made comments against African-American Democratic Presidential Candidate hopeful Al Sharpton. This angered many black voters and Koch was no longer Mayor of New York City. He kept busy again as a lawyer and with numerous other projects. Some ventures include becoming a New York University adjunct professor, a children's book written with his sister, and a movie review video-series called The Mayor at the Movies. Koch was also an avid Twitter user up until the very end (see video below).

There has been on outpour of praise and remorse over the passing of Ed Koch. Many prominent political figures such as Rudy Giuliani and Jessie Jackson have made public statements regarding the recent loss. Current New York Mayor, Michael Bloomberg, says of Koch, "New York City has lost an irrepressible icon and our most charismatic cheerleader." Former Newyorker Editor and Current Newsweek Editor, Tina Brown Tweeted the following in regards to Ed Koch's death:

RIP to one of NYC’s great political characters. Koch made the Big Apple bigger. thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/…

— Tina Brown (@TheTinaBeast) February 1, 2013