Those of us reared in New York City inevitably reflect on the life, achievements, joie de vivre, and passing of three-term mayor Edward Koch, who led the city from the brink of insolvency to a financial rebound.

The late mayor died on Feb. 1 of congestive heart failure. The mayor is shown at left at an event for veterans, and at right in the 1970s with President Jimmy Carter and with former New York Congresswoman Bella Abzug. The photos are from the late mayor's Wikipedia entry. He was lifelong Democrat who endorsed President Bush for re-election in 2004, and President Obama for re-election in 2012.

Newsmax president and CEO Christopher Ruddy is a conservative whom I came to know and respect during our joint criticism of the injustice visited by the courts upon former New York City Police Commissioner Bernard Kerik. The publisher sent me his remembrance of the late mayor, excerpted below.

I encourage my readers to visit the Newsmax site to see this eloquent and apt tribute, introduced as follows:

“On Friday,” Ruddy wrote, “I learned that my good friend Ed Koch passed away. Late yesterday I posted to Newsmax a remembrance about him, sharing some personal insights about him and the role he played in my career and with Newsmax. I also discussed his relationships with President Obama, Cardinal O’Connor, the Clintons, George Bush and others – and how he made a significant difference in the lives of so many. Please enjoy:”

The Ed Koch I Knew – A Remembrance,