Mayor Menino's cancer battle has been lost, according to a spokesman for the political figure who served in Boston for over two decades.
Thomas Menino was the first Italian-American mayor in the city of Boston, after a long tradition of Irish domination in the city's politics, and he was re-elected four times after he first arrived in office in 1993.
According to the Press Herald, Mayor Menino's cancer was first diagnosed in February, not long after he had left the mayor's seat. Doctors later discovered that his disease was quite advanced, and it was decided that the recently retired mayor would need immediate treatment.
Mayor Menino's cancer had been treated until last week, when he announced he would be suspending his medical healing process along with a book tour he'd planned out beforehand, so he could spend more time with his family.
Then, last Thursday, he passed away surrounded by his family and friends, as reported by USA Today.
Unfortunately, this last spell of Mayor Menino's cancer was not the only health problem the political figure went through. Menino had gone through two bouts of cancer in the past, for which he was hospitalized while holding office.
Earlier this year, it was announced that mayor Menino's cancer had metastasized.
He was a beloved figure in his city - after all, he served five terms as mayor. Local newspaper Boston Globe praised the political figure's ability to bring the northeast city to the 21st century, talking about his approach of recruiting high-tech companies in South Boston as well as his ability to leave that behind for a more hands-on approach to politics.
Menino had earned the nickname of "Mumbles" due to his tendency to fumble through words; however, reportedly he was also a tireless man, often having more energy than his aides.
Now that mayor Menino's cancer battle has been lost, politicians around the country have paid their respects, including Secretary of State John Kerry and President Barack Obama, saying in a statement:
"Bold, big-hearted and Boston strong, Tom was the embodiment of the city he loved and led for two decades."
