Congressman Bill Pascrell (D-NJ) speaks as Larry Doby, a pioneering force for Black baseball players and a native of Paterson, NJ is honored with the Congressional Gold Medal during a ceremony at the US Capitol in Washington, DC on December 13, 2023.
© Jack Gruber / USA TODAY NETWORK
(Paterson, NJ) – After representing New Jersey in Washington, DC for 27 years, Congressman Bill Pascrell has died at the age of 87. Born and raised in Paterson, Pascrell passed away Wednesday morning, according to his office. He’d been hospitalized last month for a respiratory infection.
Pascrell’s X account shared the following message: “It is with deep sadness that we announce that Bill Pascrell Jr., our beloved husband, father, and grandfather, passed away this morning. 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.”
After spending some time in the ICU during his July hospitalization, Pascrell was moved to a rehabilitation facility earlier in August. But just days later he was rushed back to the hospital.
The grandson of Italian immigrants, Pascrell Jr. eventually served in the US Army and also attended Fordham University in the Bronx. He received a bachelor’s degree in journalism and a master’s degree in philosophy. Pascrell Jr. later taught High School students for 12 years in Paramus, and spent time as a professor at Fairleigh Dickinson University.
Initially elected to Congress in 1996, Pascrell Jr. also served a stint as a member of the Paterson Board of Education — and later was the mayor of his hometown from 1990 to 1997.
