Ed Koch died on Feb. 1 in New York City, the metropolis in which the 88-year-old served as major for three terms from 1978 to 1989.
Although this feisty personality, whose given name is Edward Irving Koch, grew up in New Jersey, Ed lived most of his life in the Big Apple, the city where he earned his law degree from New York University.
While he did work as an attorney for many years, Koch was intrigued by politics. In response, he became a New York congressman in a post that lasted nine years. This stint was followed by two years of service with the New York City Council.
That said, Ed Koch also dipped his well-heeled toes into show business. He appeared in some 60 films and TV shows. He always played his inimitable self, a person who had been said to have "saved the City of New York from bankruptcy and in doing so restored the pride of New Yorkers."
Among his official entertainment credits are a stint as host of "Saturday Night Live" and a turn in the popular film, "The First Wives Club." He also became a feisty television judge by taking the helm of "The People’s Court" from 1997 to 1999.
In 2008, Ed expressed his final wishes to the Associated Press, saying, “I don’t want to leave Manhattan, even when I’m gone." He added, "This is my home."
And so, as news of Ed Koch's passing on Feb. 1 woke up everyone on Friday morning, all kinds of civilians were impacted by this proud New Yorker who made a huge difference while living and working in his favorite place on earth.
RIP Ed Koch, RIP.
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