Bill Pascrell Dead: Longtime NJ Democrat Running for Re-election Was 87

New Jersey Democratic Representative Bill Pascrell Jr., who was running for re-election in November, died at the age of 87 on Wednesday.
“It is with deep sadness that we announce that Bill Pascrell Jr., our beloved husband, father, and grandfather, passed away this morning,” his family posted on X. “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.”
Pascrell was first elected to the House of Representatives in 1997. He was also the mayor of Paterson from 1990 to 1997.
His political career began in 1987 when he was elected to the state’s general assembly.
Pascrell was hospitalized last month for a fever related to a respiratory illness. He entered a rehabilitation center on August 7, but returned to Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston four days later.
He was the second-oldest member of the House of Representatives. The oldest member is 87-year-old California Democratic Representative Grace Napolitano, who is retiring this year.
Pascrell was seeking re-election to a 15th term in the upcoming general election in November. Under state law, Democratic county committee members must pick a new nominee by August 29.
The Republican nominee is Air Force veteran Billy Prempeh, who ran against Pascrell in the last two elections.
Pascrell was born in Paterson in 1937. His grandparents were Italian immigrants.
He served in the U.S. Army and U.S. Army reserves.
Pascrell attended undergraduate and graduate school at Fordham University. He then taught high school in Paramus for 12 years and later became a professor at Fairleigh Dickinson University.
Since 2007, Pascrell has served on the House Ways and Means Committee, which oversees various economic issues including Social Security and international trade.
He previously served on the House Committees on Small Business, Transportation and Infrastructure, Homeland Security and Budget.
Pascrell frequently criticized former president Donald Trump on X, including bashing “Trump and his soulless goons” for their handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.
He also shared a photo of Trump with the text “FELON” after Trump was convicted on all counts in a hush money trial.
Pascrell leaves behind his wife of 60 years, Elsie Marie Botto, and their three children and five grandchildren.
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