Mario Cuomo, the three-time Democratic governor of New York who turned down several invitations to seek the U.S. presidency, has died at the age of 82.
The precise circumstances of his death, which came on the day that his son, Andrew Cuomo, delivered inaugural speeches in Manhattan and Buffalo for his own second term as governor, were not clear.
There was no immediate official statement announcing his death, but numerous news organizations reported he had died, citing family sources as having confirmed his passing, and several New York politicians issued statements of condolences.
He was hospitalized on Nov. 30 to treat a heart condition.
Chris Cuomo, of CNN’s "New Day," informed the outlet shortly before 5 p.m. Thursday that his father had died at his home, CNN reported. During that time Andrew Cuomo was delivering his second inaugural address at the Erie and Buffalo County Historical Society.
Officials had said earlier the elder Cuomo, a celebrated political orator who was a favorite of the Democratic Party’s liberal contingent, was unable to attend the swearing-in proceedings of his son due to poor health.
In his inauguration address on Thursday Andrew Cuomo said he had read his speech to his father the night before.