Former Passaic City Mayor Sammy Rivera has died.

A native of Puerto Rico, Mr. Rivera moved to Passaic in 1963, served on the Passaic City Police Department, and served as mayor of the city from 2001 to 2008.

He was 73.

“As a city we extend our condolences to the Rivera family on the passing of former Passaic Mayor Samuel Rivera,” sitting Mayor Hector Lora posted on his Facebook page. “I still speak to people today who share stories of how he helped them personally and how much he cared about people. Many in our community can remember his approach to cleaning up the streets of violent crimes and how visible he was in Passaic. Our prayers and thoughts are with his family and friends. May the memories of things he did to help others serve as some comfort during these difficult times.”

Indicted and arrested on charges of accepting bribes in 2007, Mr. Rivera pleaded guilty to atempted extortion and stepped down in May of 2008.

A big man physically, intimidating on the one hand but lovable on the other, he had a legendary presence on the streets.

“He did some great things locally; he adored the people and the people adored him,” said Assembyman Gary Schaer (D-36), who became acting mayor when Mr. Rivera stepped down.

“How he came to be derailed I don’t know precisely, but you could stare into Sammy’s eyes and feel an amazing warmth,” said Schaer. “He was a legend last. Before his fall, in the last few years of his life, he was on top of the mountain; mayor of a large New Jerey city. This was a man who could barely read and write – and yet he allowed himself to destory his legacy because of greed and because he forgot who he was. He as a mountain of a man, and tragically at the end of his life he was broken physically, a man with a cane. But his charisma was just amazing. He and I were were very close.”

The first four years of Mr. Rivera’s tenure were brilliant and the last three abysmal,” said Schaer.

“He was a man – nothing more, nothing less,” the assemblyman and former acting mayor added. “He was a guy who came up with very little financially, who became a cop. If we could eliminate the last few years of his life, it would be a much different obituary.”

For more of the life and times of Mayor Rivera, please go here to read this story by Gerad DeMarco.