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Obituaries

Charlotte R. Bloomberg, N.Y. Mayor's Mother, Dead at 102

Sunday, Charlotte R. Bloomberg, the mother of New York Mayor, Michael R. Bloomberg, died in her home on Ronaele Road. Medford Mayor, Michael J. McGlynn, and President of the Temple Shalom, Charlotte Potak, comment.

Charlotte R. Bloomberg, Medford native and mother of New York Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg,  died yesterday.

The 102-year-old died in her home at 6 Ronaele Road in Medford.

The New York Times reported her health had been, “deteriorating for several months.”

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Mayor Bloomberg released the following statement concerning his mother's death: “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.”

Ms. Bloomberg called Medford home for the past 66 years where she raised her two children, Michael and daughter, Marjorie.

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Medford's Mayor, Michael J. McGlynn, had the following to say concerning Ms. Bloomberg's death: “Charlotte Bloomberg was a very warm and welcoming person who knew many throughout the city and spent the greater part of her life here. Later in life she had the opportunity to move, but she chose to stay here in the city that she loved.

I remember when Michael was going for Mayor and we were at an event at the Temple Shalom, and [Charlotte] said, 'have you met Michael since he has been elected.' I hadn't. She gave me Michael's home number and urged me to call if I had any ideas or problems I thought he could help with. That sums Charlotte up. She was always reaching out to people – she was a leader […] Even though her son was Mayor of New York, she was humble and a gracious lady.”

While in her 90's, Ms. Bloomberg was Co-President of her synagogue, the Temple Shalom on Winthrop Street, of which the community center is named after the family.

Charlotte Potak, President of the Temple Shalom, wrote in an email to Patch: “We at Temple Shalom  have lost the matriarch of our community. She and her husband were among the founding members of the community, over 75 years ago. She served Temple Shalom in just about every way possible, taking on the post of co-president in her early 90's - and was a dynamic leader and role model.

To me personally she was like a surrogate mother -- I met her the year my own mom died [who coincidentally was also named Charlotte], and she helped me through that.  She was a source of inspiration to me and one of my biggest fans. But then, she truly had a special connection with just about everybody in the community.

Until her health declined recently she would enjoy arriving early for Friday evening services, sitting on the long couch in the lobby greeting everyone with a huge smile and a big hello... she especially loved the children and would talk with each one as they arrived.  One of the greatest feelings for me and my granddaughter [who also shares the name Charlotte] was to see Charlotte Bloomberg waiting to welcome us as we arrived at Temple for Friday evening services.

Intellectually, we all knew that she was 102, and that this day would come, and while we are grateful to have had her as part of our Temple Shalom family for so many years, we are all grappling with her death, and the tremendous sense of loss.

Charlotte's love, devotion, vitality, and spirit extended into and is an integral part of our community. She will be deeply missed.”

According to reports, despite her old-age, Ms. Bloomberg was smart as a whip and regularly used a cell phone and email. Her last public appearance was at her son's second mayoral inauguration in New York in 2006.

Charlotte Bloomberg is survived by her son Michael, daughter Marjorie, five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

According to the New York Post: “Burial will be private. A memorial service will be held at a later date. Donations in her memory may be made to the Medford Public Library, 111 High Street, Medford MA 02155, Temple Shalom, 475 Winthrop Street, Medford, MA 02155 or the Medford Chapter of Hadassah care of Temple Shalom.”

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