Tears and tributes after sudden death of San Francisco mayor Ed Lee, Chinese-American trailblazer
Doctors worked in vain for hours to save Lee, 65, who collapsed while grocery shopping and was known for his folksy style and corny jokes
Hundreds of city workers and community members have converged on San Francisco’s City Hall to mourn the sudden death of Mayor Ed Lee and hear acting Mayor London Breed honour Lee.
They crowded on a balcony outside the mayor’s office on the second floor Tuesday overlooking the building’s main floor and swarmed upper floors as Breed gave a short speech honouring Lee as a sweet and humble man who she said never wanted to be a politician. Lee was the first Chinese-American to hold the job of mayor in what is one of the most ethnically Chinese cities in the US.
Elected officials wiped away tears and hugged.
A doctor who treated Lee said attempts to resuscitate Lee lasted for hours on Monday night after he collapsed while grocery shopping at a Safeway supermarket.
Dr Susan Ehrlich of Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital said Lee arrived by ambulance in critical condition at about 10pm. He was declared dead at 1.11am on Monday. She said an autopsy will determine the cause of death.