Former Toronto mayor Rob Ford has passed away on Tuesday after losing his fight with cancer. Ford’s chief of staff Dan Jacobs issued the following statement today announcing the news.
“With heavy hearts and profound sadness, the Ford family announces the passing of their beloved son, brother, husband, and father, Councillor Rob Ford earlier today at the age of 46.
A dedicated man of the people, Councillor Ford spent his life serving the citizens of Toronto.
The family asks that you respect their privacy and join them in their grieving and their prayers.
The family will not be making any statements to the media or taking any questions. Information will follow at a later time regarding memorial services.
Over his decade and a half in municipal politics, Ford won a devoted following for being a straight talker who championed the average taxpayer.”
Ford was the mayor of Toronto from 2010-2014 and the representative of Ward 2 from 2014 until his death. He grabbed international headlines when Gawker posted a story reporting they viewed video of Ford smoking crack cocaine – which was later confirmed to be true, as Ford confessed to the incident in 2013 saying he was in a “drunken stupor.”
Ford has also been linked to domestic abuse, racism, homophobia, and drunk driving during his political career. He awkwardly addressed the issues on Jimmy Kimmel Live in 2014.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dAgIFP6VmDI
Ford had been diagnosed with cancer in 2014, which reemerged in October of 2015. He was put into palliative care early this week.
Ford was 46 years old.
[CBC]
