Buffalo is mourning the loss of a political icon. Long-time mayor Jimmy Griffin died early this morning at the Father Baker Nursing Home in Orchard Park. He was 78 years old.

Griffin died peacefully with his family at his side. His family has not released his cause of death but friends tell 7 News that he had been sick the last few months.

In 2003, Griffin sat down with 7 News Anchor Keith Radford to talk about his latest run for office - a seat on Buffalo's Common Council. "You've gotta get people interested in politics. Even if they just vote," he told Keith.

Common Councilman Mickey Kearns succeeded his political hero to the South Buffalo seat on the Common Council in 2005. "He was fighting Irish and when you're in politics, you gotta be tough. You gotta fight for people. That's why we're put in office, to fight for things and that's what Jimmy Griffin did. When he went into office, he fought for the common man."

"You see, my mom and dad never owned a house. That's why we had all those affordable houses," Griffin explained to Radford. "You cut the ribbon with some woman who never owned a house before and tears will be streaming down her face. This is the first house they have. That's what makes it good."

Griffin was a beloved mayor to some and a foe to others. But even those he did battle with respected him for his service to Buffalo. Former Buffalo mayor Anthony Masiello said, "Sometimes he didn't like what I said and did, and that's his prerogative, but to be honest with you, I respect him and admire him."

Mayor Jimmy, as many called him, was a big supporter of neighborhoods and kids. Current Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown remembers meeting Griffin for the first time when he was a city hall intern. "I must admit, as a 19-year-old kid I was a little intimidated to meet him, but he was very warm, very friendly."

Kearns said, "When I was young, I actually got to meet him when he was mayor. I came to his office. I won an essay contest and the great thing is he always encouraged people to enter office, to run for office."

Griffin's advice to his political colleagues is something that still sticks with them, just like his spirit emanates through his portrait hanging in the mayor's office at city hall.

During Griffin's 2003 interview, he voiced a wish for more coverage of politics and the real issues, another fight he was tackling. "When I ran in '77, you had three TV stations plus the public television station. And they all had debates. You had 2 newspapers. And boy they were vying. None of them endorsed me, by the way."

A wake will be held on Tuesday and Wednesday from 2 to 8pm at the Reddington Funeral Home on Abbott Road in South Buffalo. Funeral arrangements are being finalized for a 1:30pm at Our Lady of Victory Basilica on Ridge Road in Lackawanna on Thursday. Griffin will be buried at Holy Cross Cemetery. The wake and funeral mass are open to the public to attend to pay their last respects to Mayor Jimmy.