LOWELL — State Sen. Edward Kennedy died Wednesday night at Lowell General Hospital, his office confirmed to The Sun Thursday.

Kennedy served Lowell as an elected official in numerous capacities going back to 1977, when he first joined the Lowell City Council at the age of 26. He held his seat there for four consecutive terms until 1985. From 1989 to 1996, Kennedy served as a commissioner of Middlesex County, and later returned to the Lowell City Council in 2012, and served as mayor during the 2016-2017 term.

Kennedy was elected to serve the 1st Middlesex District in the state Senate for the first time in 2018.

Senate President Karen Spilka announced the news in an email to the rest of the Senate Thursday afternoon.

“Dear colleagues- It is with profound sadness that I share with you the passing of our dear friend and colleague Senator Ed Kennedy. He was a valued member of the Senate and passionate advocate for the people of the First Middlesex district,” said Spilka’s letter. “Ed was a champion for education, environmental sustainability, cultural development and, of course, his beloved hometown of Lowell. He will be deeply missed by all those fortunate enough to know him.”

U.S. Rep. Lori Trahan, who represents Lowell within the 3rd Congressional District, mourned the loss of the longtime elected official in a statement Thursday.

“I am deeply saddened by the passing of State Senator Ed Kennedy, a son of Lowell whose lifelong dedication to our city spanned nearly five decades of public service. From his early days on the City Council to his leadership as Mayor, and ultimately as our voice in the State Senate, Ed devoted his career to making Lowell a better place for every family who calls it home,” said Trahan in a statement Thursday. “Ed’s legacy is written into the very fabric of our community – in the neighborhoods he worked tirelessly to strengthen, the cultural and educational investments he championed, and the countless people he touched with his steady commitment to public service. He carried Lowell with him in every role he held, never losing sight of the city that shaped him and that he, in turn, helped to shape for the better.

“We mourn the loss of a true public servant and a steadfast advocate for Lowell. My heart is with his wife, Susan, their children, Christina and Eddie, and their grandchildren, as well as all who had the privilege to work alongside him,” Trahan’s statement continued.

University of Massachusetts President and former Congressman Marty Meehan said in a statement Thursday he is “sad to learn of the passing of my lifelong friend, state Sen. Ed Kennedy.”

“For 50 years Ed and I were friends and colleagues, sharing a love of politics and a passion for public service. I was fortunate to see Ed’s commitment firsthand over the years. We got our start in politics together in 1977 when I managed his first campaign for Lowell City Council and later attended the 1980 Democratic Convention together as delegates for Ted Kennedy,” said Meehan. “He served with distinction as a state senator, mayor of Lowell, city councilor and county commissioner. Ed was an honest man who always did the right thing even if it was difficult politically. I will miss talking to my friend Ed about politics and government. My condolences to his wife Susan, son Ed, daughter Christina, and his grandchildren.”

Gov. Maura Healey said she was sad to learn of Kennedy’s passing.

“He was a great man. He was a great public servant for the people of Lowell, for the people of Massachusetts. And I appreciated the opportunities that I had to work with Sen. Kennedy on things like housing and our schools, and education,” Healey said. “It’s a big loss, and my heart goes out to his wife and to his family.”

Middlesex Community College President Phil Sisson said in a statement Thursday Kennedy was “one of Middlesex Community College’s biggest supporters at the Massachusetts State House.”

“Since the day I became President of MCC in 2021, he has always been there, asking how he can help support us. He was one of the leaders in the senate who helped make community college free for everyone in Massachusetts and was proud to have Middlesex in his hometown as an example of the important opportunities the funding would provide to the Greater Lowell community,” said Sisson.  “Senator Kennedy was passionate about the arts, and loved hosting cultural events at our arts center. He was also a massive supporter of our hospitality and culinary programs. He secured the funding to outfit our first-ever on-campus culinary lab in the Cowan Center. He was one of the biggest supporters of Middlesex exploring options to create a plan that could turn the ICC over to the college after the emergency shelter services there ended. He was truly one of the college’s biggest cheerleaders, and did Middlesex proud telling our story to a statewide audience. Condolences to his family and loved ones.”

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This is a developing story.

Boston Herald reporter Chris Van Buskirk contributed to this report.