Former Providence Mayor Vincent "Buddy" Cianci Jr. died Thursday at age 74 after being rushed to Miriam Hospital with severe stomach pains.
Elected to office for six terms in total, Cianci was Providence's longest serving mayor. During his time as mayor, Cianci oversaw significant changes to Providence, including overseeing the building of the Providence Place Mall and establishing WaterFire.
In 2002, Cianci was sentenced to five years of federal prison for public corruption. Cianci spent his post-prison life as a radio talk show host and commentator, and ran again for mayor of Providence in 2014. He was diagnosed with cancer in 2014.
"My thoughts and prayers are with Mayor Cianci’s family and loved ones during this difficult time," said Mayor Jorge Elorza in a Jan. 28 press release. "Mayor Cianci's love for the city of Providence is undeniable, and his mark on the city will not be forgotten."
The Herald will publish an obituary for Cianci soon. If you would like to share memories, email herald@browndailyherald.com.
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