Former Providence Mayor Vincent A. “Buddy” Cianci Jr., has died.

Cianci was transported to the hospital Wednesday night in the middle of taping his weekly show, ABC6 News On the Record with Buddy Cianci, when the station says he became ill and was transported to the hospital.

Hospital officials say Cianci died at 9:40 a.m. Thursday

The Associated Press says Cianci presided over the resurrection of Providence from a decaying, Industrial-age relic to a 21st-century city with gondolas plying newly uncovered rivers.

Known for a bare-fisted style of politics, Cianci was larger than life figure even in a state known for the outsized personalities of its public figures.

Cianci was first elected mayor in 1974 but twice was forced from office following felony convictions.

The first time was in 1984, when he pleaded no contest to assaulting a man with a fireplace log.

A federal prison term for racketeering conspiracy ended his second administration ended in 2002.

We are continuing to follow this story and will provide you with more information as we receive it.

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