(Harrisburg) — Former Harrisburg mayor Stephen Reed, who served for almost three decades, has died. He was 70.

A statement from the family reported by PennLive.com said Reed died Saturday “surrounded by his family” and noted that he was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2006 “and fought it courageously.”

Reed served as mayor from 1982 until 2010.

During his tenure, he sought to make Harrisburg more of a destination, such as bringing baseball to City Island, businesses to the downtown area and establishing the National Civil War Museum.

“Mayor Reed dedicated his life to the citizens of Harrisburg and central Pennsylvania,” Harrisburg Mayor Eric Papenfuse, who has served in the role since 2014, said in a statement. “His transformative vision left an indelible mark on every major development project in our capital for over a generation.”

Papenfuse added that the flags at City Hall, Riverfront Park and City Island will be lowered to half-staff in honor of Reed’s service.

Carolyn Kaster / AP Photo

FILE PHOTO: Harrisburg Mayor Stephen Reed introduces Democratic presidential hopeful, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., during a campaign stop at The Forum, Tuesday, March 11, 2008, in Harrisburg, Pa.

Reed served seven terms but lost the 2009 primary amid criticism over the millions of dollars he had spent on accumulating Wild West artifacts he bought with public money for a museum that was never built.

The city was able to recoup some of that money through auctioning off artifacts found in storage.

Officials raided Reed’s home in 2015 and seized hundreds of additional items. The former mayor was later arrested on nearly 500 counts of corruption, racketeering, corruption, theft and other charges — later dropped to 112 counts of theft. He pleaded guilty to 20 counts of theft in January 2017 and was sentenced to two years’ probation.