Former New York Governor Mario Cuomo Dies at 82

Whenever I think of former New York State Governor Mario Cuomo I think of buttered roast beef.

Isn't it funny the things our brain focuses on? Of all the things I remember about the day I met Mario Cuomo, the fact my mom made me a cold buttered roast beef sandwich sticks out the very most because it was the first time anyone had given me a sandwich like that and I was repulsed.  I remember going home from school and in bratty teen fashion, ripping into my mom, asking her why in the world she would give me something so disgusting. I'll never forget her reply. It was that I was so much like my grandma and my grandma loved buttered roast beef sandwiches and she thought it would be a special treat for me. I still feel the shame today that I felt that day when she explained it to me.

From the day I met the Governor, I also remember the massive number of steps on the front of the Capitol building as well as the winding staircases and how dark it felt inside the building. And I remember our group turning the corner and almost running into Governor Mario Cuomo as he was rounding the same corner. I'm pretty sure the Governor got a kick out of a whole class of kids with their jaws hanging open, because he stopped and smiled and said hello with a sweet twinkle in his eye. The Governor took time to acknowledged us and we were left amazed.

I was barely a teenager when Mario Cuomo governed over New York, so I really have no right to an opinion on his ability to run our state, but I do believe that he was a genuine man with a good heart because of the way he stopped to entertain a group of kids who had no affect on his political career. And that twinkle. I'll never forget that twinkle.

Mario Cuomo served as Governor of New York State for three terms from 1983 to 1994 and passed away Thursday evening, January 1st, at the age of 82. Cuomo died of heart failure just hours after his son, Governor Andrew Cuomo, delivered a speech to kick off his second term as Governor.

Most of us have heard how Cuomo was famous for his keynote speech at the 1984 Democratic National Conventionwhere he criticized Ronald Reagan's policies and how he was considered a front-runner for the Democratic nomination for President in both 1988 and 1992 as well as how he was dubbed "Hamlet on the Hudson," but the way Cuomo stepped into politics is pretty interesting too.

In 1952, Cuomo signed as an outfielder with the Pittsburgh Pirates for a $2,000 bonus, which he used to buy an engagement ring for his wife, Matilda. He played for the Brunswick Pirates until he was struck in the back of the head by a pitch. After being injured, Cuomo gave up playing ball and decided to pursue a legal career which was the launching point for his political career.

Cuomo leaves behind his wife of more than 50 years, Matilda as well as sons Andrew and Chris and daughters Maria, Margaret and Madeline.