Bill Pascrell Jr., congressman from NJ for 3 decades, dies at 87

Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr., the veteran Democrat who represented the Paterson area in Congress for nearly three decades, died Wednesday, his family confirmed. He was 87 years old.

A Paterson resident and its former mayor, Pascrell was first elected to Congress in 1996 and had served on the House Ways and Means Committee since 2007.

Feisty and outspoken, Pascrell embraced his image as a street-savvy Jersey tough guy who never walked away from a political fight. Pascrell, the son of a railroad traffic manager, prided himself on his many friendships with cops and firefighters.

The congressman was widely known for being an advocate for first responders, especially firefighters. He worked to bring grants back to his district and spearheaded the Firefighter Investment and Response Enhancement Act of 2000 to establish the only federal program that delivers grant dollars directly to fire departments across America.

Pascrell had recently had a 24-day hospitalization during which he needed what his staff said was “breathing assistance.” He was released, but then on Aug. 11 suffered a medical setback and was taken from a rehabilitation facility in Essex County to Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston.

Pascrell was instrumental in getting his childhood playground, the Great Falls, recognized as the Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park during the administration of former President Barack Obama. He also served as co-chair of the Italian-American Congressional Delegation.

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Pascrell’s family posted Wednesday on the congressman’s account on X, formerly called Twitter.

“It is with deep sadness that we announce that Bill Pascrell Jr., our beloved husband, father, and grandfather, passed away this morning,” the family wrote. “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,” the family said. “He is now at peace after a lifetime devoted to our great nation America.”

Pascrell’s tough battle for election in 2012

Pascrell had a streak of 14 congressional election victories at the time he died, perhaps none of them quite as impressive as his win in 2012, when redistricting set up a primary battle between him and fellow Democratic incumbent Steve Rothman. Boosted by a strong turnout in Paterson, Pascrell emerged the winner over Rothman with about 61% of the vote.

Pascrell faced a primary challenge this past June, but he easily fended off Prospect Park Mayor Mohamed Khairullah by winning 76% of the vote. Much of Khairullah’s support came from the North Jersey Islamic community, which had been critical of Pascrell’s response to the conflict between Israel and Hamas.

The congressman was going to face Republican Billy Prempeh of Paterson — whom he had beaten twice before — in the November general election.

Before making his way to Washington, Pascrell served in the state Assembly and then as the mayor of Paterson. He also served in the U.S. Army and the Army Reserve, receiving an honorable discharge in 1967.

Pascrell’s early life in Paterson

Pascrell attended St. George’s Elementary School in Paterson and St. John the Baptist High School, where was chairman of the student council’s advertising committee and, for a time, its president. Out of the classroom, he was an all-league third baseman for St. John’s in his senior year, but Pascrell played a variety of positions including pitcher, catcher and outfielder. 

A lifelong fan of the game, Pascrell was a mainstay at the Annual Roll Call Congressional Baseball Game as the Democrats’ first base coach. He played in local semi-pro exhibitions after finishing high school in 1955, including a game in July 1958 in which he shattered his glasses while attempting a bunt, the Paterson Morning Call reported.

After becoming the first in his family to graduate from high school, Pascrell studied at Fordham University. There, he received a bachelor’s degree in journalism and a master’s degree in philosophy.

He started his career as a high school history teacher in Paterson, then taught in Paramus and later became an adjunct professor at Fairleigh Dickinson University. While teaching in Paramus in the 1960s, Pascrell spent time as the Democratic leader of Paterson’s 10th Ward. During the decade, he was living on East 21st Street and occupying roles including chairman of the Social and Political Action Committee of the Association of Career Teachers and president of the Paterson Action Committee, which he co-founded to break what he thought was a party patronage mill under former and future Paterson Mayor Frank X. Graves.

“The city is finished with partisan politics,” Pascrell declared in 1969. “Too many forces divide the city.”

He stayed involved in local issues and was belittled by longtime Democratic county Chairman Anthony J. Grossi, who dubbed the grown father of three “Young Bill.” Pascrell mounted his own challenge for Paterson’s mayoral seat in 1972 but finished last in a special election. He nonetheless continued his involvement in local politics, serving as Paterson campaign chairman for Brendan Byrne’s candidacy for governor in 1973 and later co-chairing Lawrence Kramer’s mayoral campaign. Kramer rewarded Pascrell in 1974 by naming him the city’s director of public works. There, he launched investigations into departmental overtime abuses and honed a no-nonsense aura that saw him unsuccessfully seek the Democratic nomination for Passaic County sheriff in 1977.

Pascrell served as Passaic County campaign coordinator for Rep. Robert Roe’s gubernatorial campaign and as Paterson’s director of policy planning and management before being elected Passaic County Democratic chairman in 1982, with the support of Graves, then a state senator. A member of the Paterson Board of Education, Pascrell soon resigned his post. He also served on the Passaic County Community College board of trustees.

Pascrell took his politics to another level in 1988, when he entered the New Jersey General Assembly, his first elected office, eventually becoming minority leader pro tempore. While serving in Trenton, he was elected mayor of Paterson, New Jersey’s third-largest city, in 1990.

In 1996, Pascrell challenged Republican Rep. Bill Martini for New Jersey’s 8th Congressional District and won, beginning a long and successful congressional career. He continued to win reelection easily, except for the particularly challenging 2012 race.

Pascrell is survived by his wife, Elsie, three children and five grandchildren.

Paterson Press editor Joe Malinconico and NorthJersey.com staff writer David M. Zimmer contributed to this story.

Katie Sobko covers the New Jersey Statehouse. Email: sobko@northjersey.com