Mayor Thomas Menino’s death, which tragically came too soon into his retirement, will be marked in the coming days with tributes from across the world. From the powerful president to the regular citizens that populate this city, thousands of people were touched—and, yes, at times amused—by the Hyde Park native. While he ruled City Hall with an iron fist, he was never afraid to display his lighter side, be it by donning a chef’s hat a charity event, reading a book to school kids, taking a sleigh ride with his wife, Angela, in the New Year’s Eve parade, or even posing in a fashion feature for us in the early aughts. After rising from City Council president to mayor in 1993, he later won five elections to keep his spot as Boston’s most powerful politician. In that time, he reshaped the city, helping to transform the Seaport and Fenway areas into the booming neighborhoods they are now—just two accomplishments on a list too long to enumerate here. In December, he spoke with Jonathan Soroff as his tenure was winding down. Here are a few highlights, but check out the entire interview, along with quotes from prominent citizens about Boston’s longest-serving and much-loved mayor.

JONATHAN SOROFF: WHAT DO YOU MOST WANT TO BE REMEMBERED FOR AS MAYOR? Two things. Both are intangible. One is how the city works much better today than it did when I came into office. We had a huge problem from 1973 on. We were a racially divided city. We’re much better today—not perfect, but everyone gets along much better, and we don’t have the nonsense we used to. I’m very proud of that. The other piece is education and our children. We’ve made a lot of gains. Again, not perfect, but we’re much better. When I became mayor, the schools were vastly underenrolled. Now they’re overenrolled. I once had to go to a job fair in Florida to recruit teachers. We went to Panama for math teachers. This year, we had 3,000 applicants for 300 jobs. So it’s a city where people want to raise their children again.

BEST PART OF THE JOB? Being in the neighborhoods. Talking to people. Learning from them. As mayor, you’re sometimes isolated. You’re in this office, with these big walls. I enjoyed being out listening to criticisms, ideas.

FAVORITE DIGNITARY TO ENTERTAIN? President Clinton was fun to be with. I’ll tell you a funny story about him. He and Ted Kennedy were here announcing a crime bill, and Clinton goes, “We’ll get something to eat. My staff’ll take care of it.” So I ask his staff where we’re going, and they say to a hotel. I said, “I’m not going with you unless we go to a neighborhood place.” “Oh, no, we can’t. It’s the president of the United States.” So I said, “I’m not going with you.” So they ask the president, and he says, “Whatever the mayor wants, we’re gonna do.” So we ended up at Mike’s City Diner in the South End. It’s Teddy, me, the president and some of his staff. Afterward, the bill comes. Teddy has no money. Clinton has no money. Old me pays the bill, because they don’t carry money. So the following week, I’m going to breakfast at Charlie’s Sandwich Shoppe in the South End with Al Gore. I said, “Before we go in, do you have any money?” He asked why. I said, “Last week, your partner stiffed me.”