The city of Syracuse is mourning the loss of former Common Council President Van Robinson. 

Garland Funeral Home confirmed Robinson's death, saying he passed away after a long illness. 

Robinson served the Syracuse Common Council for nearly two decades. 

Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh released a statement following the news of his death saying Robinson played a critical factor in the decision to take down the Interstate 81 viaduct: 

“A soft voice and patient way belied Van Robinson’s immense strength and steely determination," Walsh said in a statement. "He demonstrated those traits in his service to our nation in the U.S. Navy, his leadership of the NAACP, and his tenure as a Common Councilor and Council President. His determined vision was a critical factor in the decision to take down the Interstate 81 viaduct. In recent years as his health declined, when his presence was needed at pivotal occasions for Syracuse, Van summoned his strength to be there. Syracuse is a better city because of Van’s service and sacrifice. I send my sympathies to Linda, the Robinson family and all those who loved Van.“

U.S. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, who invited Morrison to be his guest at last year's State of the Union address, spoke to the city leader's legacy:

“Van Robinson represented the very best of Central New York," Schumer said in part. "He loved Syracuse, and it showed with every action he took. He was a true trailblazer and history maker, a leader who dedicated his life to building a more equitable and just Syracuse for all, and someone I was proud to call a dear, dear friend. Every year, I would visit Van at the NY State Fair’s Pan-African Village that he helped create, we would laugh, and I would seek his advice; his teachings guided me when I was a young senator and continued to do so when I became leader of the Senate."

“My heartfelt condolences to Linda Brown Robinson and all the members of Van’s family," Onondaga County Controller Marty Masterpole said in a statement. "Van was a legend in Syracuse, I had the honor to work alongside him on the Syracuse Common Council and he has been a role model to every elected official in Syracuse.  Van was a true gentleman, I always enjoyed his company and will miss him dearly."

"Van Robinson was a giant in Syracuse—more than a trailblazer, he was a unifier, a mentor, and a fierce advocate for justice," Legislator Charles E. Garland said in a statement. "I’ll never forget him showing up at my door in a snowstorm, oxygen tank in hand, urging me to run for office. He believed in me before I believed in myself. His legacy lives on in the countless lives he touched. My heart is with Linda Brown-Robinson and their family. Syracuse has lost one of its finest."