Former NY mayor Mario Cuomo dies

Mario Cuomo, the son of Italian immigrants who became an eloquent spokesman for a generation of liberal Democrats during his three terms as governor of New York — but could not quite bring himself to run for president — has died.

Cuomo, 82, died at his home of natural causes from heart failure, the same day his son Andrew started his second term as state governor.

He loomed large in New York politics as governor from 1983-94 and became nationally celebrated for his ability to weave the story of his humble upbringing with ringing calls for social justice.