Former New York Gov. Mario Cuomo died Thursday at the age of 82.
Recently hospitalized for treatment of a heart condition, Cuomo passed away at home from "natural causes due to heart failure," according to CNN.
Cuomo was governor for three terms, from 1983 to 1995. He turned down the opportunity to be appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court for a chance at a fourth term, but was then defeated in elections.
One of his best-known speeches was from the 1984 Democratic National Convention:
Cuomo left behind his wife of over 60 years, Matilda, and five children. One of his sons is the current New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who was sworn in for his second term on the same day his father died.
Cuomo was born in an apartment above his father's grocery store in New York City, according to CNN. He flirted with a career in baseball as a minor league player before obtaining his law degree from St. John's University School of Law.
Cuomo wanted to be remembered as an honest man, according to CNN. "One of the simple things I wanted to achieve is - I want to be governor. I want to be the hardest working there ever was," he once said. "And I want, when it's over - and I figured on four years at first - I want people to say, now, there was an honest person."
In 1994, Cuomo starred in a Doritos's commercial with Ann Richards of Texas, who had also lost the gubernatorial election that year.
"His own story taught him that as Americans, we are bound together as one people, and our country's success rests on the success of all of us, not just a fortunate few," President Barack Obama said.
"He was a philosopher at heart that always saw the bigger picture. Even when we would engage in debate I felt he was playing chess while I was playing checkers," Rev. Al Sharpton said. "Mario, you have earned it and your place in history is secure. You can now sleep with the greats."
Flags that have been flying at half-mast in New York City for the slain NYPD officers Rafael Ramos and Wenjian Liu will remain at half-mast for the next 30 days at the behest of New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio.
De Blasio called Cuomo "a man of unwavering principle who possessed a compassion for humankind that was without equal."
