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Mayor Bloomberg's Mother Dies at 102

By DNAinfo Staff on June 20, 2011 7:04am  | Updated on June 20, 2011 7:11am

By Jill Colvin

DNAinfo Reporter/Producer

MANHATTAN — Mayor Michael Bloomberg's mother, Charlotte, a petite woman with enormous spirit, died Sunday at the age of 102.

"Today, my sister, Marjorie, and I lost our mother, Charlotte, after an extraordinary 102 years of life," the mayor said in a statement issued late Sunday.

"As the center of our family, our mother's unimpeachable integrity, fierce independence and constant love were gifts that profoundly shaped our lives and the lives of so many who knew her.

"Our family recognizes how truly blessed we have been to have her live such a long and full life, and to be able to carry her spirit with us forever," he said.

The mayor has always spoken adoringly of his mother, mentioning her frequently during press conferences and praising her feisty attitude, deadpan wit and zest for life.

Born and raised in New Jersey, Charlotte earned a degree from New York University before marrying the mayor's father. The couple had two children, Michael and his sister, Marjorie.

On her 100th birthday, the mayor marvelled at all his mom had lived through.

"She remembers electricity coming into the house or apartment she lived in and gas lamps going out. She remembers the first car in the neighborhood," the mayor said at the time, according to the Post.

"Today, she carries a cellphone and emails."

Charlotte had attended both the mayor's first and second inaugurations and remained active through her golden years.

But neighbors told reporters Sunday her health had been fading.

"She was always uplifting, always wanting to help people. She was proud of her children and her grandchildren," her next-door neighbor told the Daily News.

"She was the most wonderful neighbor I ever knew. She was so alert and so bright. She was a charming lady," the neighbor said.