Charlotte Bloomberg, mother of Mayor Bloomberg, dies at 102

CITY HALL- Charlotte Bloomberg, the determined and hard working matriarch of the Bloomberg family and mother of Mayor Michael Bloomberg died today at the age of 102, the mayor said tonight.

Bloomberg died at her home in the Boston suburb of Medford, Mass., where the mayor grew up. Her son released a statement in her honor noting how blessed his family is to have had her so long.

Today, my sister Marjorie and I lost our mother, Charlotte, after an extraordinary 102 years of life. 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.

Born Charlotte Rubens in 1909, she was raised in New Jersey, where her parents owned a wholesale-grocery store. In the 1920's she graduated from New York University with a degree in accounting and later took a job in a dairy where she met William, Bloomberg's father who died in 1963.

They later married and had two children: the current mayor and Marjorie Tiven, city commissioner for the United Nations.

The mayor has made it a point to reference his mother in many of his speeches delivered over the years, guided by her beliefs and sayings.

Painting a portrait of a tough, strong-willed person, Bloomberg has shared how she has kept him grounded over the years.

When Bloomberg, now a billionaire was accepted to Harvard Business School, he immediately phoned his mom to bask in what surely is good news. Don't let it get to your head, the mayor recounted in his autobiography.

When she turned 102, she traveled to New York City to celebrate her birthday.

She remembers electricity coming in-they had gas lamps before that, said Mr. Bloomberg at Abyssinian Baptist Church on Sunday. She remembers the first telephone, the first car in the neighborhood.

Today, she carries a cellphone and e-mails.