Ed Lee, San Francisco Mayor, Dies At 65

SAN FRANCISCO, CA — Mayor Ed Lee died early Tuesday. He was 65 years old. The mayor's office sent out an email announcing Lee's death just before 2:30 a.m.

“It is with profound sadness and terrible grief that we confirm that Mayor Edwin M. Lee passed away on Tuesday, December 12 at 1:11 a.m. at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital," the email stated. "Family, friends and colleagues were at his side. Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife Anita, his two daughters, Brianna and Tania, and his family.”

A cause of death wasn't released.

According to city officials, in accordance with the city charter, Board of Supervisors President London Breed is Acting Mayor of San Francisco, effective immediately. The City Attorney announced that a special election will be held on June 5, 2018 to determine who will fill the remainder of Lee's term that ends in 2020.

Lee was a highly-regarded civil rights lawyer and became San Francisco's first Asian-American mayor when he was elected in 2011. Lee was initially appointed interim mayor in January 2011 to finish Gavin Newsom's term after Newsom resigned to become the state's lieutenant governor. Lee was re-elected in 2015.

Lee was born on May 5, 1952 in Seattle. He was the fourth of six children of immigrant parents and was raised in housing projects, SFGate reported. He earned a scholarship to Bowdoin College in Maine and went on to pursue a law degree from the University of California, Berkeley, School of Law.

Lee was not known to be ill. Former Mayor Willie Brown told KGO-TV that Lee suffered cardiac arrest.

He was known for his work fighting homelessness.

Many people who worked alongside Lee expressed shock and grief about his unexpected death.

State Sen. Scott Wiener, who was on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors before being elected to the state Legislature, said Lee "was a decent human being who was deeply committed to our city. He made history for
our Chinese community. I'm floored that he's gone."

Kamala Harris, who was San Francisco's district attorney before becoming the state attorney general and then a U.S. senator, said she is "deeply saddened by the passing of my friend."

Lee "was a fierce advocate for civil rights and worked tirelessly for workers' rights and his leadership will be missed," Harris said.

U.S. Rep. Jackie Speier, D-San Francisco/San Mateo, called Lee "an uncommon mayor with a common touch, he was modest in a business that attracts boasters, he was gentle in a career that awards roughness, and he was a policy expert in everything local in a field where most of his colleagues are generalists."

Lee's mayoral colleagues in two other major Bay Area cities -- Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf and San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo -- also released statements about his passing.

"Oakland sends its condolences to Anita, her daughters, and all San Franciscans today," Schaaf said. "Mayor Ed Lee served his community with passion and humility, broke historic barriers, led with a compassionate
heart, and was a valued friend and colleague."

Liccardo said, "Ed was a good and incredibly gracious man, at a time when goodness, graciousness, and civility are not sufficiently valued in public life. My heart goes out to Ed's family."

#MOREDETAILS: Former San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown tells ABC7 News anchor @ctylerabc7 Mayor Ed lee suffered cardiac arrest last night. He died at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital.
— ABC7 News (@abc7newsbayarea) December 12, 2017

This is a developing story. Check back here for updates.

Bay City News and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Photo credit: Jason O. Watson / Getty Images