The three-term governor of New York and father of current governor of that state, Mario Cuomo passed away from heart failure on New Years Day.

Cuomo, who served as New York’s governor from 1983 until 1994, was hospitalized in late November for the  heart condition that would eventually take his life. He was 82.

After graduating public school in New York Cuomo would go on to St John’s University, when he was discovered and signed on as an outfielder with the Pittsburg Pirates. He would spend his $2,000 signing bonus  to buy an engagement ring for his future wife, Matilda. He would continue his baseball career with the Brunswick Pirates until he was injured when hit in the back of the head with an errant pitch.

After his injury, Cuomo would go back to school and earn his Bachelor’s degree in 1953 and go on to attend law school there and graduate in 1956.

By 1974, Cuomo had entered the political arena, running for Lt Governor on the Democratic ticket. He would fail to win the seat that year, but in 1975, he would be appointed as New York’s Secretary of State.

In 1977, Cuomo would attempt to run for the mayor of New York, but would lose to Ed Koch in a run-off election that year. Two years later, he would again run for the Lt Governor’s seat again, and this time, win.

In 1982, Cuomo had his eyes set on the governorship, he would win that year, and win re-election in 1986 in a landslide vote. He would win by a large margin in his third bid for the governorship as well.

Cuopmo was expected to run against George H.W. Bush for the presidency in 1992, but on the day of the filing deadline, chose not to.

Cuomo was married to his wife, Matilda for 60 years, and they would have five children, one of which, Andrew, is the current governor of the state of New York.

  death, governor, heart failure, mario cuomo