Former New York Governor Mario Cuomo, who served three terms as governor during the 1980s and 1990s, passed away today from heart failure. He was 82. There were numerous reports of his passing and the news was eventually confirmed by his son, CNN anchor Chris Cuomo, who confirmed it to the news organization.
Former Governor Cuomo’s other son, Andrew, was inaugurated today for his second term as Governor of New York, mentioned his father’s then poor health,
“My father is not with us today. We had hoped that he was going to be able to come; he is at home and he is not well enough to come. We spent last night with him, changed the tradition a little bit. We weren’t in Albany last night; we stayed at my father’s house to ring in the New Year with him. I went through the speech with him. He said it was good, especially for a second-termer. See, my father is a third-termer. But he sends his regards to all of you. He couldn’t be here physically today, my father. But my father is in this room. He is in the heart and mind of every person who is here. He is here and he is here, and his inspiration and his legacy and his experience is what has brought this state to this point. So let’s give him a round of applause.”
The elder Cuomo also toyed with the idea of running for President. In 1992, he planned on running for President, but said he would not hand in his ballot forms until he reached a budget agreement with his divided state legislature. He had a waiting plane for New Hampshire when he eventually held a press conference and said that he would not run for President because he was unable to reach an agreement. He said that his duty was to New Yorkers. His reluctance to run earned him the nickname, Hamlet on the Hudson.
Cuomo leaves behind his wife, Matilda, of sixty years and five children.