Following the death of Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela on Thursday December 5th after a lenghthy illness hundreds of New Yorkers converged at the popular Madiba Restaurant and Bar (named after Mandela's clan name)in Brooklyn to hold vigil for a man whose life touched many people the world over. Mandela served 27 years on Robben Island prison during South Africa's apartheid regime. Upon release Nelson Mandela became the first black President to be democratically elected into office. He stepped down after one term and retired. Mandela is survived by his first wife Winnie, a stalwart and freedom fighter in her own right. He was 95 yers old.