Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr., a longtime Democrat who represented the Paterson area in Congress for nearly 30 years, passed away on Wednesday at the age of 87, according to his family.
Pascrell, who lived in Paterson and was its former mayor, began his Congressional career in 1996. He had been a member of the House Ways and Means Committee since 2007.
Known for his outspoken and determined personality, Pascrell was seen as a tough Jersey politician who never shied away from a fight. He was proud of his strong connections with police officers and firefighters, reflecting his background as the son of a railroad traffic manager.
Pascrell was especially recognized for his support of first responders, particularly firefighters. He worked hard to secure grants for his district and played a key role in creating the Firefighter Investment and Response Enhancement Act of 2000, which established a federal program to provide direct funding to fire departments across the country.
Recently, Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr. was hospitalized for 24 days and needed breathing support, according to his staff. Although he was released, he faced another health issue on August 11 and was moved from a rehab center in Essex County to Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston.
Pascrell played a key role in having his childhood playground, the Great Falls, designated as the Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park during Barack Obama’s presidency. He also served as co-chair of the Italian-American Congressional Delegation.
On Wednesday, Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr.’s family shared on his X (formerly Twitter) account:
“With great sadness, we announce that Bill Pascrell Jr., our beloved husband, father, and grandfather, passed away this morning. As our U.S. Representative, Bill fought until the end to return to the job he loved and the people he cared about. Bill spent his entire life in Paterson and had a deep love for the city he grew up in and served. He is now at peace after dedicating his life to our country.”
Pascrell’s tough battle for election in 2012
At the time of his passing, Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr. had won 14 consecutive congressional elections. One of his most notable victories was in 2012, when he won a tough primary battle against fellow Democrat Steve Rothman, thanks to strong support from Paterson. Pascrell won about 61% of the vote.
In June of this year, Pascrell faced a primary challenge from Prospect Park Mayor Mohamed Khairullah, whom he defeated easily with 76% of the vote. Khairullah’s support mainly came from the North Jersey Islamic community, which had issues with Pascrell’s stance on the Israel-Hamas conflict.
Pascrell was set to compete against Republican Billy Prempeh, a Paterson resident he had previously defeated twice, in the November general election.
Before his time in Congress, Pascrell served in the state Assembly, was the mayor of Paterson, and served in the U.S. Army and Army Reserve, receiving an honorable discharge in 1967.
Pascrell’s early life in Paterson
Bill Pascrell Jr. attended St. George’s Elementary School and St. John the Baptist High School in Paterson. At St. John’s, he was active in student government, serving as chairman of the advertising committee and later as president. He was also a standout athlete, playing several positions in baseball, including third baseman, pitcher, catcher, and outfielder.
Pascrell was a big baseball fan and regularly participated in the Annual Roll Call Congressional Baseball Game as the Democrats’ first base coach. He even played in local semi-pro games after graduating high school in 1955. In one game in 1958, he broke his glasses while trying to bunt.
He was the first in his family to graduate from high school and went on to study at Fordham University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism and a master’s degree in philosophy.
Pascrell began his career as a high school history teacher in Paterson, then taught in Paramus, and later became an adjunct professor at Fairleigh Dickinson University. In the 1960s, he was active in local politics, serving as the Democratic leader of Paterson’s 10th Ward and working to challenge what he saw as corrupt political practices.
He ran for Paterson’s mayoral seat in 1972 but did not win. Despite this, he continued to be involved in local politics, supporting various campaigns and serving as Paterson’s director of public works starting in 1974. In this role, he investigated misuse of overtime and developed a reputation for his straightforward approach. He also ran for Passaic County sheriff in 1977 but was unsuccessful.
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