A former insurance salesman, Thomas M. Menino became one of the most powerful figures in Boston history.

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  Suzanne Kreiter/Globe Staff

  Mayor Thomas M. Menino left his Hyde Park home on the morning of March 28, before he announced that he would not seek an unprecedented sixth term as mayor.
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  Thomas M. Menino as a District 5 city councilor in an undated photo.
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  Suzanne Kreiter/Globe Staff

  Menino, then City Council president-turned-acting mayor, in a portrait July 21, 1993.
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  Jonathan Wiggs/Globe Staff

  Menino greeted supporters in the North End during a parade Oct. 10, 1993.
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  Michele McDonald/Globe Staff

  Menino cut the ribbon at the opening of the Mary Ellen McCormack housing project’s senior center Oct. 14, 1993. McCormack residents worked for eight years to get a place for seniors.
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  Lane Turner/Globe Staff

  Menino escorted his daughter Susan into the Sacred Heart Church in Boston for her wedding ceremony Dec. 31, 1993.
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  David L. Ryan/Globe Staff

  Judge Paul Lipcos swore Menino in as mayor of Boston Nov. 16, 1993 as Menino’s wife, Angela, looked on.
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  Michele McDonald/Globe Staff

  As he did for many years, Menino visited the Geneva Avenue neighborhood on Christmas Eve 1993, offering help to local businesses, and asking kids like Jonathan Pagan, 8, how they were doing in school.
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  Frank O'Brien, Globe Staff

  Mayor Thomas M. Menino gave his first State of the City address Jan. 18, 1994.
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  Barry Chin/Globe Staff

  At Spring Unity Fest in Columbus Park, Menino prepared to signal the start of a sack race May 7, 1994.
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  Wendy MAEDA/GLOBE STAFF

  Governor William Weld and Menino prepared to cut the ribbon during a dedication ceremony of Dudley Town Common June 8, 1996. Over his 20 years as mayor, Menino has frequented ribbon cutting and groundbreaking ceremonies.
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  Globe file photo

  Menino on a downtown Boston rooftop in an undated file photo.
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  Bill Brett/GLOBE STAFF

  Menino and officials from other local communities held hands on the Massachusetts Avenue bridge Aug. 6, 1996 as part of National Night Out.
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  TOM HERDE/GLOBE STAFF

  Menino shook hands with Boston Police Commissioner Paul Evans after Menino delivered his State of the City address Jan. 14, 1997.
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  Joanne RATHE/GLOBE STAFF

  President Bill Clinton and Menino laughed about 'gaining and losing weight' during a roundtable discussion at UMass Boston Feb. 19, 1997. Clinton was in town to support Menino's efforts to fight juvenile crime.
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  Mark Wilson/Globe Staff

  City Councilor Jim Kelly, with whom Menino sparred on developing the South Boston waterfront for many years, made a joke about holding South Boston parking places with furniture at the St. Patrick's Day breakfast, March 20, 2005.
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  ELISE AMENDOLA/AP Photo

  Menino in 2006 with former Boston mayors Kevin White and Raymond Flynn. White died in 2012.
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  Evan Richman/Globe Staff

  Menino during a Dec. 5, 2008 stop in Readville on his annual trolley tour, one of many holiday tree lightings he has attended.
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  Dominic Chavez/Globe Staff

  Menino led cyclists through downtown Boston during a program to promote cycling in the city May 12, 2008.
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  Wendy Maeda/Globe Staff

  Menino and UMass Boston student Yorling Valdez, 18, of Dorchester, during a Massachusetts Recovery Plan press conference March 27, 2009.
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  Pat Greenhouse/Globe Staff

  Menino and his wife, Angela Menino, walked in the Roslindale Day Parade Oct. 4, 2009.
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  Aram Boghosian for The Boston Globe

  Menino spoke with Orlando Street residents May 28, 2012 in Mattapan after a shooting that left four injured. A 2013 Globe poll showed 49 percent of Bostonians have met Menino.
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  Jonathan Wiggs/Globe staff

  Menino, far right, at a ceremonial groundbreaking for the Edward M. Kennedy Institute in Dorchester, April 8, 2011.
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  Aram Boghosian for the Boston Globe

  For candidates, Menino’s endorsement has become highly coveted because of his favorable image and vast political machine. Volunteer Chuck DiPrima put up campaign signs for Elizabeth Warren and other candidates outside East Boston High School Nov. 5, 2012.
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  Suzanne Kreiter/Globe Staff

  After eight weeks of hospitalization, Menino moved in to the Parkman House on Beacon Street to ease his commute to City Hall as he returned to work in January 2013 after a succession of ailments. The mayor brought his chair from his Hyde Park home.
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  Barry Chin/Globe Staff

  Menino, walking with a cane, entered his annual State of the City address at Faneuil Hall Jan. 29, 2013 as Kelly Clarkson’s “Stronger” played over speakers.
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  WENDY MAEDA/GLOBE STAFF

  Menino announced in March that he had been diagnosed with an advanced form of cancer.
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  Jennifer S. Altman for the Boston Globe

  In mid-October, Menino kicked off a book tour in New York to promote his autobiography.