Longtime Congressman DEAD at 87

Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr. (D-NJ)has passed away at the age of 87, his family announced on Wednesday.

Pascrell died on Wednesday morning after serving 14 terms in Congress, according to a statement from his family on X (formerly Twitter). While the cause of death remains unknown, it was reported by Fox News that he had been hospitalized since July.

“It is with deep sadness that we announce that Bill Pascrell Jr., our beloved husband, father, and grandfather, passed away this morning,” the X post read. “As our United States Representative, Bill fought to his last breath to return to the job he cherished and to the people he loved. Bill lived his entire life in Paterson and had an unwavering love for the city he grew up in and served. He is now at peace after a lifetime devoted to our great nation America.”

Seton Hall expresses its condolences to the family and friends of Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr., who was a friend of the University for many years. May the Lord grant his soul eternal peace, having labored tirelessly for his country, family, and friends. pic.twitter.com/geJm8S3aq6

— Seton Hall (@SetonHall) August 21, 2024

Pascrell was first elected to Congress in 1996, focusing on public safety, environmental protection, and tax reform, according to his biography. He served on the House Ways and Means Committee since 2007 and also took part in coaching the Democratic Congressional baseball team.

Throughout his career, Pascrell was a longtime co-chair of the Congressional Law Enforcement Caucus and the Italian-American Congressional Delegation, which aims to “promote Italian-American history and culture in Congress,” as noted in his biography.

It’s hard to believe, but today, Jersey lost an absolute giant, a courageous fighter, and an unparalleled champion of hardworking families and first responders — my dear friend and mentor, and Paterson’s favorite son, Bill Pascrell.

Read my full statement below ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/d831yhp8Bm

— Rep Josh Gottheimer (@RepJoshG) August 21, 2024

Pascrell attended Fordham University and served in the U.S. Army, receiving an honorable discharge in 1967. He later served in the New Jersey General Assembly beginning in 1988 and was elected mayor of Paterson, New Jersey, in 1990.

In another recent loss for New Jersey, Democratic Congressman Donald Payne Jr. passed away at the age of 65 in April, just weeks after suffering a heart attack.