Former New York City Mayor Ed Koch Dead At 88

Former New York City Mayor Ed Koch is dead at the age of 88.

He had been hospitalized at New York-Presbyterian Hospital for fluid build-up in his lungs.

Koch was hospitalized in September for anemia and had reportedly undergone a blood transfusion. He was hospitalized again in December for a respiratory infection.

He received his law degree from New York University in 1948.  He was the son of Polish immigrants and worked throughout his childhood and through school.  He served as a city councilman prior to running for Congress and became the first Democrat to represent New York's "Silk Stocking District" in thirty years.

Koch was elected to Congress in 1968.  He was elected Mayor of New York City in 1977.  He ran unsuccessfully for Governor of New York in 1982 but remained a fixture in politics.  He went on to become a radio talk show host and was most recently a partner at Bryan Cave.

He died at 2:00am this morning, February 1, 2013.  The funeral will be held at Temple Emanu-El in Manhattan on Monday.