Agree or disagree with his politics, there is no denying Ed Koch's prominent role in New York City's history. His honesty will be missed. I'd much rather have an opinionated politician in office, than one who hides behind fuzzy math, twisted logic and talking points.

Family, friends, and a long list of politicians gathered today to bid a final farewell to Mayor Ed Koch. The mourners, including former President Bill Clinton, shared stories of the charismatic, and controversial, three-term mayor. Mayor Bloomberg delivered the eulogy, and called Koch a "quintessential mayor" who was "tough and loud, brash and irreverent, full of humor and chutzpah."

After the ceremony, the Bronx-born politician was buried at Trinity Cemetery in Washington Heights. Koch is credited with helping save New York City from the fiscal crisis of the 1970s. Critics say his time in office was defined by racial tension and a slow response to the onset of AIDS. What do you say?

How will you remember Ed Koch? If you watched his funeral service on NY1 earlier, what were your thoughts as you witnessed his final farewell? Now that Koch has passed, do you consider the Queensboro Bridge renaming a fitting tribute to New York City's 105th Mayor?

Send your thoughts using the link above.

I think the final farewell to Former Mayor Koch was so very fitting. I remember when the city was in the mist of a transit strike and Mayor Koch told the people walking over the Brooklyn Bridge to keep riding their bicycles and to keep on walking. He was very outspoken and wasn't afraid to do so. I was brought up with a few good mayors in my life, but Mayor Koch was my favorite. The ending of the memorial was so touching and so apropos with the organ playing "New York, New York" and the people in attendance giving a thunderous and deserving farewell applaud. Yes Mayor Koch, you did well.

Ralph, Bay Ridge.

I say that Koch did a fine job of pulling the city out of free-fall psychologically and perhaps also financially -- but along with that, he also picked fights, especially in the racial arena, that he could have avoided, and that didn't do any of us any good. And then he betrayed the voters three times over, first by seeking higher office, running for governor, something he'd repeatedly said he wouldn't do; and then, when he lost the Democratic party's primary, spending the next two decades endorsing Republicans every chance he got; and, finally, and worst of all, allowing corruption scandals to engulf his second and third terms.

I met the man on three occasions, once before he was mayor, once when he was serving in office, and once after he was out of office, and I shed no tears for his passing. In fact, I hold New York 1 in some considerable contempt for giving him a platform for his views every week for years on your Tuesday night broadcasts.

Bruce
Upper West Side
Manhattan

John,

It was shameful to allow Bloomberg to speak. Koch was a creator and brought NYC back to life. Bloomberg is a destroyer and is killing NYC as we know and love it.

Joe
Port Richmond, SI

Hi John,

First of all I'm not impressed as to any of the politicians that were there whether they gave the eulogy or not. As far as the bridge being named after him I do not go along with it at all. For that matter as another example the Tri-borough bridge. Changing tunnel names and post offices, street names. Why are we loosing everything in this country. All of our historic places are being taken away from us and also our immediate places that we live in for that matter our surroundings belong to us not politicians trying to make points. BUT WHY SHOULD THESE POLITICIANS CARE AT ALL. WHO ARE THEY TO MAKE THESE DECISIONS. THEY ARE JUST PASSING THROUGH SOONER OR LATER=MORE LIKE LATER. EVERYONE IS A DICTATOR. Where the hell are the jobs that we so desperately need. They congregated today just like the phonies they all are. Just plain sick of all of them at this point now.

Thank you John,
maxxiee
mp

In watching the funeral of Mayor Koch, it was a great testimony of the life he lead and his contribution to The City of New York. Regardless, of whether or not you agreed with every decision he made, or every thing he said; he will go down in history as one of New York City's greatest Mayor alongside Mayor Lindsay. We can say we had a few great Mayors who truly cared about New York and clearly left their MARK. " Bravo, Mayor Koch for a job well done".

Theresa
UpperWestside

Edward koch, was a the people mayor . He cared about the city and the needs of the poor. If ed. Koch was mayor we wouldn't have a school bus strike . He a sincere and kind man. I'm going to miss him. What new york and America needs are sincere leaders like ed. Koch.

Anthony
manhattan.

NY and Madrid are sister cities and I traveled with him to Madrid on a diplomatic tour. During a ceremony at Madrid's Columbus Circle, I was astonished to hear him announce to a crowd of bemused Spaniards that Christopher Columbus was Jewish!

Norman

Former Mayor Ed Koch has left us at age 88 and has serve our great city well. In fact I think we are much better off to of had former Mayor Koch who was around when we most needed him.. Here was a man who was honest, work hard for the people of New York City and always spoke his mind. Ed after leaving office was outspoken about the state, the country and the world. Let me also say he was also a great defender of Israel and on that there is no doubt.. He gave back to the city its' spirit and in part saved the city when it was in deep finacial trouble. New York has lost a most noble soul and a voice that will be dearly missed.It is rare for a politician to speak the truth but Ed Koch did. I had met the Mayor when he was first running for Mayor and found him to be a person we could trust to do the right thing. I think when Koch gets to heaven he might say to God," How'm I doin' ?." I think the answer would be," You've done well".

Frederick
Glen Oaks Village,N.Y.

Liked the funeral services for Mayor Koch, just what he would have expected from his fellow New Yorkers, rest in peace Hizzoner, you will be missed :(

Carmen, Bay Ridge

"KEEP NEW YORK WET, SAVE WATER'
I feel privileged to have been part of his journey!
May he rest in peace!

Anne-Marie
Manhattan

Ed Koch was the People's Mayor, he can never be replaced .. Tom Allon should be the next Mayor !!

Steve
Staten Island

no one is perfect. but he scored over 90 out of 100. yes, many people will criticize him saying his ambition stopped him from actually passing a gay rights bill or spending funds on AIDS in 1981 (nyc spent under $30K, SF spent $4.5 million in 1981 i think). but politicians make choices and they arent always what we expect from fictional characters we read about. let's not forget... he lost elections. New Yorkers wanted him as their uncle, friend, reviewer and booster. but not as the mayor who had to make deals and allocate budgets.

Jingle

One of Ed Koch's greatest achievement is the pooper scooper law.
All New Yorkers have affection for the guy.
RIP

Bobby G
East Village

I met former Mayor Ed Koch in 1977, at the 59th street and Lexington avenue train station, and I was on my way to high school at the High School of Art & Design. Ed was campaigning for mayor for the first time. He stuck his hand out and I shook it, he asked me if I was voting for him. I said, I was too young. He said where are you going? I said, I'm going to the high school of art & design. Ed asked me, do you like my profile, and turned his head to one side. We laughed. His disarming gesture was unexpected, funny, and warm. I will never forget Mayor Ed Koch.

Michael

Mayor Koch was a wonderful gift to us all. I remember him with another person who had a heart and love for people in NY, he also passed. Assemblymen Anthony Genovesi. Mayor Koch was deeply sad when he passed. Today mayor your friend awaits you with a smile. . No one could shine your shoe Mayor Koch. RIP.

Kris

I was overwhelmingly touched by the funeral recessional at today's funeral service for our beloved former mayor. I am never moved to tears, but I was today..

Pat

Although I realized that Mr. Koch was very ill last week, I was hoping against hope that he would pull through and give us a few more years. But really he will never leave us. He will always be here - mouth open!

My mother is buried at Trinity Cemetary also - she had said the SAME THING - that she never wanted to leave Manhattan. I have a plot there also. I'll be in good company.

From Joanie in Astoria

Loved your coverage of Mayor Koch's funeral. Next best thing to being there. My younger self would have trekked up there. My younger self met Ed during the 1980 transit strike. My commute took me from Bay Ridge to SI where a few of us parked in a colleague's garage and then took the ferry to lower Manhattan. Mayor Koch was there one morning greeting everyone. I ran up and told him he was a great mayor, and he took both my hands and said 'thank you very much. I remember that brief meeting, but I think everyone thought that they knew the mayor personally and the coverage from the powerful and the average guy and gal proved how loved he was. He did a lot for this town. Those of us who remember the bad old days are grateful to him for starting NYC back to the top of the heap. I hope he is looking down from a better place....he would absolutely love his sendoff.

Best
Cathy

My mother and I are going to miss Mayor Koch so much. He had such a wonderful sense of humor! Every Tuesday, we tuned in to the "Wise Guys" and looked forward to Mr. Koch's opinions and quips. One time, all the Wise Guys were talking and Mayor Koch wasn't saying a word! I was wondering how long that was going to last. Finally, Mayor Koch said, "When does the potted plant get a chance to speak?" Everyone laughed. From that time on, my mother and I would say, "The Potted Plant is on tonight on the Wise Guys!" We looked forward to what Mayor Koch would say. He was not only informative, but entertaining, as well!

Lisa from Queens

The funeral service for former Mayor Ed Koch certainly was befitting. The service was packed with more than 2,500 people, including 3 other ex-mayors and many other politicians. He was a truly sincere, blunt and always very charismatic person, who loved this city and its people. He always told it like it was, and never sugar coated anything that he had to say. Even if you did not agree with him, you had to respect him for who he was and what he stood for-honesty and candidness. We will miss him-He did just fine! He was one of the the best mayors that this city ever had. He brought the city out of the worst fiscal crisis since the Depression.

John
Fresh Meadows, NY