Rob Ford is being remembered as a “dedicated man of the people” who “never stopped fighting for the little guy.”

Shortly after news of the former mayor’s death first surfaced on Tuesday morning, countless prominent Torontonians began sharing their condolences and reflecting on Ford’s legacy and unique brand of politics.

At the same time, messages of condolence flooded in from around the country and even the world, a fitting tribute for a man who will likely go down as the most well-known politician this city has ever seen.

“His time at city hall included moments of kindness and generosity to his council colleagues and real efforts to do what he thought was best,” Mayor John Tory said at city hall, flanked by Ford’s fellow councillors. “He was above all else a profoundly human guy who presence in our city will be very much missed.”

Tory said that Ford was someone with a “gregarious nature” who was “true to himself and true to his principals.”

Beyond that, though, Tory said he was someone who just had a gift for building relationships with people, even those he may have opposed politically.

“He and I could be engaged in a debate and he would turn to me at a moment when someone else was speaking and say ‘Buddy, I am about to knock you out cold’ and he would then prepare to deliver whatever verbal blow he had in mind. But once that was done he would smile and move on from there,” he said.

Ford passed away early Tuesday at Mount Sinai Hospital following a battle with a rare form of soft tissue cancer.

In a short statement announcing his death, Ford’s family described the former mayor and longtime Ward 2 councillor as someone who was a “beloved son, brother, husband and father” who “spent his life serving the citizens of Toronto.”

Meanwhile, at Nathan Phillips Square Coun. Giorgio Mammoliti solemnly wrote “You may be gone but your voice has been heard and you will be with us forever!” in chalk below the Toronto sign, prompting dozens of others to follow suit and write their messages of condolence below the iconic sign.

“He was larger than life. We didn’t think he would pass, we thought he would survive it like he has survived all of the other battles down here,” Mammoliti told CP24. “He really was a powerhouse and he did a lot of good work here in the city.”

Flags lowered to half mast

Flags at City Hall, Metro Hall and Toronto’s civic centres have been lowered to half mast to pay homage to Ford and the Toronto sign will be dimmed tonight out of respect for the late councillor.

A book of condolences has also been made available at city hall and online for staff and members of the public who wish to express their sympathies.

Discussing Ford’s legacy at city hall, Ward 11 Coun. Frances Nunziata remembered her former colleague and friend as “a nice person” who truly cared about everyone he met.

“My mother passed away in November and Rob even though he was sick made an effort to come to the viewing and that really meant a lot to our family, that a man who was suffering so much took time to come,” she said. “He really did care.”

Nunziata, who served as council speaker during Ford’s mayoral term, said that at the end of the day Ford should be remembered as someone who “fought for the city of Toronto.”

His political legacy, however, may extend beyond that.

“He was able to bring into the public domain the important voice of the marginalized and he gave an earful to some of our senior bureaucrats to be more responsive and to listen,” Councillor James Pasternak told reporters. “He helped thousands in that way.”

"He would drive anywhere in the city to fix a pothole or a broken window at a TCHC building. He never forgot who elected him," Coun. Denzil Minnan-Wong added. "He was a guy who truly loved the city and as an elected official and as a person he never stopped fighting for the little guy."

Within hours of Ford’s death being announced, thousands of people had taken to Twitter to express their sympathies, including Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, former Prime Minister Stephen Harper, federal NDP Leader Tom Mulcair and a long list of other dignitaries.

At Queen’s Park, Premier Kathleen Wynne told CP24 that Ford was a “man who tried very hard” and always had the best of intentions.

“Whether we agreed or not he tried very hard to serve people and the loss is very sad,” she said.

Back at city hall, meanwhile, former deputy mayor Doug Holyday said Ford was someone who “stood up for the little guy” and always did what he thought was right.

“The thing with Rob was that when he wanted to do something he wanted to do it. Whether it was politically correct or not that didn’t matter to Rob,” he said. “He had a good sense for what was right or what was wrong and he often he was right in what he wanted to do.”

‘Toronto’s greatest cheerleader”

While Ford’s political legacy will likely be discussed endlessly over the coming days, at least one prominent Torontonian says he will be remembering him as something else.

“He was Toronto’s greatest cheerleader, there is no question about it,” former CFL star Michael ‘Pinball’ Clemons told CP24 outside city hall. “He loved this city and that cannot be questioned. He was this city’s biggest fan.”

Ford’s unique brand of politics

Ford made a name for himself as a phenomenal retail politician, one who handed his personal phone number to constituents and always returned their calls.

Jeff Silverstein, who briefly served as Ford’s campaign and witnessed that persona first hand, told CP24 on Tuesday that ultimately, that should be his enduring legacy.

“He lived and breather politics and overwhelming he was a guy who could connect. He had this unbelievable ability to connect with people,” he said.

Silverstein briefly served as Ford’s campaign manager and then ran Doug Ford’s campaign when Ford pulled out of the race following his cancer diagnosis.

Reflecting on those trying days, Silverstein said Ford loved politics and the city so deeply that he initially wanted to “campaign from his hospital bed” and needed to be convinced otherwise.

“He didn’t want to believe that the show had to come to an end,” he said.

Ford is survived by his wife Renata and his young children Doug Jr. and Stephanie.