Geraldine Ferraro passed away Saturday at the age of 75 (creative commons image).

Ferraro died at Massachusetts General Hospital. The cause of death was complications from multiple myeloma, a blood cancer she battled for 12 years, according to a family statement.

Her family said: "Geraldine Anne Ferraro Zaccaro was widely known as a leader, a fighter for justice, and a tireless advocate for those without a voice. To us, she was a wife, mother, grandmother and aunt, a woman devoted to and deeply loved by her family. Her courage and generosity of spirit throughout her life waging battles big and small, public and personal, will never be forgotten and will be sorely missed."

Ferraro unquestionably was a pioneer in the her field, someone who has been praised for her smarts and toughness. Known as trailblazer for women in American politics, Ferraro rose to prominence in 1984 as Walter Mondale's running mate on the Democratic presidential ticket.

"My name is Geraldine Ferraro," she declared in the opening-line of her vice-presidential nomination acceptance speech as delegates at the Democratic Convention in San Francisco cheered. "I stand before you to proclaim tonight: America is the land where dreams can come true for all of us."

The campaign, however, proved to be difficult for the Democratic ticket, with Ferraro facing criticism and accusations about her personal financial situation. Her gender was also an issue on the campaign trial. In one instance, Mississippi’s agriculture secretary called her “young lady” and asked if she could bake muffins.

The Mondale-Ferraro ticket ultimately ended up losing by a landslide to Republican incumbents President Ronald Reagan and Vice President George H.W. Bush. The Reagan-Bush ticket won 49 of 50 states, nearly swept the electoral vote, 525 to 13, and won the popular vote 58.8 percent to 40 percent.

One-time political opponenet George H.W. Bush and his wife Barbara expressed "heartfelt condolences and love to Gerry's family," in a statement they released on Saturday.

"Barbara and I were deeply saddened to learn of Gerry's passing. Though we were one-time political opponents, I am happy to say Gerry and I became friends in time -- a friendship marked by respect and affection," the statement read. "I admired Gerry in many ways, not the least of which was the dignified and principled manner she blazed new trails for women in politics."

President Obama remembered Ferraro "as a trailblazer who broke down barriers for women, and Americans of all backgrounds and walks of life."

In a statement, Obama said: "Whether it was as a public school teacher, assistant district attorney, member of Congress or candidate for vice president, Geraldine fought to uphold America's founding ideals of equality, justice, and opportunity for all."

Ferraro, who was originally from New York, was elected to the House of Representatives in 1978. She served three terms representing New York's ninth congressional district. Following the defeat in 1984, she later served as a U.S. ambassador to the U.N. Human Rights Commission, ran an unsuccessful campaign for U.S. Senate in 1992 and worked on Hillary Clinton's failed 2008 presidential campaign.

Former President Bill Clinton and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said in a statement that Ferraro was "one of a kind -- tough, brilliant and never afraid to speak her mind or stand up for what she believed in -- a New York icon and a true American original."

Ferraro is survived by her husband, three children and eight grandchildren.