Ed Koch

Full Name: Edward Irving Koch
Profession: Congressman and Mayor of New York City

Biography: Koch was the long-time Mayor of New York City, from 1978 to 1989; prior to which he had been Congressman for New York from 1969 to 1977.

Koch was known during his time as Mayor for riding the subway and asking people he encountered on the street: "How'm I doin'?" While Koch first won the mayoralty with only 20% of the vote, he must have done something right as in 1981 he won with 75%; and in 1985, 78%.

During Koch's time as Mayor of New York, he clashed repeatedly with then-developer and future-president Donald Trump. Of Trump, Koch once said: "Donald Trump is one of the least likable people I have met during the 12 years that I served as mayor. It is incomprehensible to me that for some people he has become a folk hero."

Trump, for his part, called Koch a "moron" and credited him with turning New York into "a cesspool of corruption and of incompetence."

Born: December 12, 1924
Birthplace: NYC, New York, USA

Generation: Greatest Generation
Chinese Zodiac: Rat
Star Sign: Sagittarius

Died: February 1, 2013 (aged 88)
Cause of Death: Heart failure