Several New Jersey politicians reacted to the death of former New York Gov. Mario Cuomo. He died at age 82 Jan. 1.

Gov. Chris Christie released a statement that said, “Our country and our region lost a giant today with the passing of Gov. Mario Cuomo. He was a strong, eloquent leader who loved New York and its people. As an Italian-American, he was also a role model for future generations that anything was possible through hard work and education. Finally, he was a great husband, father and grandfather. Mary Pat and I send our deepest condolences to Matilda, Gov. Andrew Cuomo and the entire Cuomo family.”

Senate President Steve Sweeney tweeted, “Mario Cuomo was a great governor and an eloquent voice for the dispossessed. America will miss him. Deepest condolences to Andrew and family.”

State Sen. Paul Sarlo told PolitickerNJ that he remembered Mario Cuomo coming to Lyndhurst in 2009 to talk about Gov. Jon Corzine. “One of my great memories in politics was watching him [Mario Cuomo] walk into that catering hall. Standing in the room, I heard one of the greatest campaign speeches I ever heard — and he wasn’t even a candidate,” Sarlo said.