Rob Ford, Former Crack-Smoking Toronto Mayor, Dies From Cancer At 46

Rob Ford, who became known across the globe for his drunken antics and his admission wile Mayor of Toronto that he had smoked crack, died Tuesday of cancer, his family announced. He was 46.

Ford had been suffering from a rare form of stomach cancer since 2014, which suspended his re-election bid for mayor but left him well enough to run for City Council — and win.

The statement from his family called Ford a "beloved son, brother, husband and father."

"A dedicated man of the people, Councillor Ford spent his life serving the citizens of Toronto," the statement said. "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."

Ford's relationship with the city he governed was complicated, to say the least.

He took office on a conservative platform of smaller government, lower taxes and job creation after three terms as a city councillor. But while mayor he was frequently seen in drunken stupors making inappropriate comments and had several run-ins with the law.

Most notably, in May of 2013, Gawker and the Toronto Star said that they had seen a video that appeared to show Ford smoking crack cocaine and making racist and homophobic comments. The video was reportedly being shopped around by Somali men in the drug trade.

Ford admitted in November that he had used the drug.

"Yes, I have smoked crack cocaine" he told reporters. "But, no, do I? Am I an addict? No. Have I tried it? Um, probably in one of my drunken stupors, probably approximately about a year ago."

Following the confession, Ford was not removed from office, but the city council slowly stripped him of many mayoral powers. He sought reelection in 2014 but dropped out of the race after he was diagnosed with cancer.

He was eventually elected to his old city council seat.

Ford was remembered Tuesday not only for his boisterous, bumbling behavior but for his love of Toronto, where he had served the city's government since 2000.

“I have known Rob Ford for many years. He was a man who spoke his mind and who ran for office because of the deeply felt convictions that he had,” current Toronto Mayor John Tory said in a statement.

“His time in City Hall included moments of kindness, of generosity to his council colleagues and real efforts to do what he thought was best for Toronto. He was, above all else, a profoundly human guy whose presence in our city will be missed.”

Ford his survived by his wife and two young children.

• Read the full National Post obit of Rob Ford here.
• Read the full Toronto Star obit of Rob Ford here.

Image via West Annex News, Flickr, used under Creative Commons