Weiner's friendship with the Clintons dates to 1976, when he interned for Hillary Clinton, who was running Jimmy Carter's campaign in Indiana. Weiner grew close to then-Arkansas Gov. Bill Clinton while raising money for the Democratic Governors Association.

Mark S. Weiner died while following his heart, heading to see his lifelong friends, the Clintons.

On Tuesday morning, the longtime Democratic Party activist and major fundraiser rose, eager to travel to the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia to hear a speech by his longtime friend, former President Bill Clinton, and to see Hillary Clinton become the first female nominee for president from a major party.

During his speech at the convention Tuesday night, Bill Clinton said he and Hillary cried when they heard of Weiner's death.

“He was getting dressed to come to the convention,” former Providence Mayor Joseph R. Paolino Jr. said, speaking by phone from Philadelphia. “He got up early and went back to bed and passed away." He said Weiner had leukemia, but he was unsure what caused his death.

The Associated Press reported that Weiner was in Newport when he died.

Weiner, 62, of East Greenwich, is a former state Democratic Party chairman who was president of Financial Innovations, a Cranston firm that has served as the official merchant and supplier of banners, pens, hats and virtually anything else at every Democratic National Convention since 1980. He’s also served as a Rhode Island delegate to the convention and raised millions of dollars for Bill and Hillary Clinton and other candidates. He leaves his wife, Susan, and four children.

Paolino and Weiner were friends since 1969, when they attended La Salle Academy together, and he'd been letting Weiner stay at a home he owns on Ocean Drive, in Newport. “It’s a loss for humanity — that is how good a person Mark was," he said. "I lost a brother."

Bill Clinton visited Weiner at the Newport home on July 10, Paolino said. “[Clinton] loved Mark. They just talked. They watched the golf match.”

Weiner’s friendship with the Clintons began in 1976 when Weiner was an intern for Hillary Clinton, who was then running Jimmy Carter’s presidential campaign in Indiana, Paolino said. When Carter won, Weiner landed a job at the White House, he said. And Weiner grew close to then-Arkansas Gov. Bill Clinton while raising money for the Democratic Governors Association.

Weiner had been selected as a Rhode Island delegate, but his health prevented him from fully participating in the convention, so his son Richard Weiner replaced him, Paolino said.

But Mark Weiner wanted to come to Philadelphia to hear Bill Clinton speak and Hillary Clinton nominated, and it was “poetic” that he'd pass away while heading to a Democratic convention for that purpose, Paolino said. “That’s the only way Mark Weiner would have left."

Bill Clinton had found a room for Weiner near his hotel room in Philadelphia. But on Tuesday morning, Paolino broke the news to Clinton, who offered his condolences to Richard Weiner. He said believes Clinton will speak at Weiner's funeral, though it was too early to know the details of the funeral services.

U.S. Sen. Jack Reed recalled Weiner as a “dear friend," saying, "He always had a kind and generous heart and helped strengthen and enrich the community in so many ways. He may have befriended presidents, but he really connected with people from all walks of life."

U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse said, “Mark was active in Democratic politics for a generation, and he was a personal friend. It’s safe to say he was Rhode Island’s biggest Clinton fan, and I know how excited he was to see Hillary accept the party’s nomination at this convention."

Governor Raimondo said, "I’m saddened to hear about Mark’s passing, and my heart goes out to his family. Mark cared deeply and worked hard to move our state forward. His presence will be sorely missed."

House Speaker Nicholas A. Mattiello, D-Cranston, described Weiner as “a giant and a cornerstone of the Democratic Party — in Rhode Island as well as the nation." He said, "Mark was a good father, a good husband and a good man. He always did all he could to promote Rhode Island and to be of assistance to anybody in the state.”

State Democratic Party Chairman Joseph M. McNamara said, "After decades of work on behalf of the party, this convention — more than any — would have been the capstone to his service to the Democratic Party. His loss will be profound."

Former state General Treasurer Frank T. Caprio recalled an anecdote highlighting Weiner’s national profile: In 1988, Weiner was selling political merchandise at the Democratic National Convention in Atlanta, and Caprio stopped by his office at the convention hall to try to get an extra pass to the convention. “A minute later, Jimmy Carter walks in, looking for the same thing,” he said. “Here’s the former president in his home state and he’s going to Mark for passes for people he can’t say 'no' to. That is who Mark was.”

Caprio said, “We saw the public side of him — hosting major events, bringing presidents and others into the state. But he was most comfortable helping fellow Rhode Islanders. He was always there for so many people.”

One of those people was Diane Florio Penza, executive director of the imPossible Dream Playground, in Warwick. When the privately owned playground, which has equipment accessible for children with disabilities, was vandalized in August 2015, Weiner showed up, offering to cover the full cost of repairs. "He took out his checkbook and said, 'What do you need?' " she recalled, saying he provided $7,000. "He cared about the playground being made whole again for the children."

When told of Weiner's death, Florio Penza said, "Oh, my goodness. I am very, very sorry to hear this news. He was so generous and kind. He had a very big heart."