Bill Pascrell

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Bill Pascrell
BornWilliam James Pascrell Jr.
1/25/1937
BirthplacePaterson, New Jersey, U.S.
Died8/21/2024
Livingston, New Jersey, U.S.
NationalityAmerican
OccupationPolitician
Known forU.S. Representative from New Jersey (1997–2024), Mayor of Paterson (1990–1997), advocacy for traumatic brain injury awareness
EducationFordham University (BA, MA)
Children3
AwardsCongressional Baseball Hall of Fame (2025, posthumous)
Websitehttp://pascrell.house.gov/

William James Pascrell Jr. (January 25, 1937 – August 21, 2024) was an American politician who served as a U.S. Representative from New Jersey for more than 27 years, from 1997 until his death in 2024. A lifelong Democrat and Paterson resident, Pascrell shaped North Jersey politics across more than three decades. His career took him from the New Jersey General Assembly to the mayor's office and finally to Congress. Before reaching Washington, he spent four terms in the state legislature starting in 1988 and served two terms as mayor of Paterson, one of New Jersey's largest cities. He initially represented New Jersey's 8th congressional district when first elected in 1996, then moved to the 9th district following 2012 redistricting, holding that seat until his death.[1] Pascrell became known for championing traumatic brain injury patients, fighting unfair ticketing practices, and staying deeply connected to Paterson. Since his death, multiple legislative efforts and posthumous honors have commemorated his legacy, including the renaming of sites at Paterson Great Falls National Park and the designation of a New Jersey highway in his name.

Early Life

William James Pascrell Jr. was born January 25, 1937, in Paterson, New Jersey. The city sits in Passaic County and has a long history as an industrial center.[2] Alexander Hamilton founded Paterson as one of the nation's first planned industrial cities, and waves of immigration and manufacturing shaped the community. Pascrell grew up there and never lost his attachment to the place. He'd eventually serve it as a state legislator and mayor before representing it in Congress.

He served in the United States Army from 1958 to 1967, reaching the rank of Sergeant.[3] That military background shaped his later work. He'd frequently reference it when discussing veterans' issues and military families.

Education

Pascrell attended Fordham University in New York City, where he earned both a Bachelor of Arts degree and a Master of Arts degree.[4] The Jesuit university in the Bronx drew many students from the greater New York metropolitan area, including northern New Jersey. His graduate work equipped him for public service and education before he entered elective politics.

Career

New Jersey General Assembly

Pascrell won election to the New Jersey General Assembly in 1987, taking office January 12, 1988. He represented the 35th legislative district, which included parts of Passaic County and his hometown of Paterson.[5] During his time there, he served alongside several notable legislators: John Girgenti, Cyril Yannarelli, Frank Catania, Donald Hayden, and Alfred E. Steele. He took Vincent O. Pellecchia's seat and remained for four terms, leaving January 3, 1997, when he headed to Congress. His successor in the Assembly was Nellie Pou, who would later succeed him in Congress as well following his death in 2024.[6]

Mayor of Paterson

While still in the Assembly, Pascrell was elected mayor of Paterson. He took office July 1, 1990, succeeding Mayor Anna Dopirak and serving two terms until January 3, 1997.[7] New Jersey law permitted him to hold both offices simultaneously, so he juggled his legislative and executive duties at the same time. Martin Barnes became his successor as mayor. That mayoral experience strengthened his ties to Paterson and gave him the executive background he'd need later in Congress.

United States House of Representatives

Election to Congress (1996)

In 1996, Pascrell ran for the U.S. House in New Jersey's 8th congressional district against incumbent Republican Bill Martini. He won and took office January 3, 1997, beginning over a quarter-century of House service.[8] Martini had served just one term.

Service in the 8th District (1997–2013)

Pascrell represented the 8th district for eight straight terms, winning reelection throughout the late 1990s and 2000s. The district included portions of Passaic County and surrounding areas in northern New Jersey, taking in Paterson itself. He built a reputation as a vocal advocate for constituents and for specific policy issues that'd come to define his time in Congress.[9]

Consumer protection mattered deeply to him. In 2012, he publicly criticized Ticketmaster after reports surfaced that the company's systems were being exploited by scalpers, particularly when Bruce Springsteen tickets went on sale. Pascrell condemned the practice, arguing it harmed regular consumers who couldn't buy tickets at face value.[10][11]

He also responded to major national events. After the January 2011 shooting of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords in Tucson, Arizona, Pascrell was among New Jersey lawmakers expressing shock and concern. The attack killed six people, wounded thirteen others, and nearly killed Giffords herself.[12]

Traumatic Brain Injury Advocacy

Traumatic brain injury defined Pascrell's legislative work. He became a leading Congressional voice on the issue, pushing federal resources toward research, treatment, and public education about TBI. In May 2006, he spoke in support of a House resolution recognizing the need for public awareness of traumatic brain injury.[13] This work became one of the signature elements of his congressional legacy and continued to influence policy after his death. In September 2025, Senator Andy Kim of New Jersey and colleagues introduced legislation to reauthorize critical programs supporting TBI patients, continuing the work Pascrell had championed for years.[14]

2012 Redistricting and Primary

After the 2010 census, New Jersey redrew its congressional districts, and the 8th district effectively became the new 9th. The redistricting put Pascrell in the same district as fellow Democratic incumbent Steve Rothman, forcing both sitting members to compete in a primary. That 2012 Democratic primary in the 9th drew major attention in New Jersey and beyond. Two incumbents from the same party rarely faced each other due to redistricting, making it unusual and significant.[15][16]

He beat Rothman in the primary. The 2012 general election followed, and Pascrell won again, becoming representative for the newly drawn 9th district.

Service in the 9th District (2013–2024)

From January 2013 onward, Pascrell served the 9th congressional district. He won reelection in subsequent cycles, holding the seat through the 2022 election. During this period, he kept working on TBI awareness, consumer protection, and issues affecting his northern New Jersey constituents.[17]

Another longtime passion was the Congressional Baseball Game. This annual charity event brings House and Senate members from both parties together to compete. He was a familiar figure at the game for years, becoming one of its most recognized participants.[18]

Death

Pascrell died August 21, 2024, in Livingston, New Jersey, at age 87. He was buried at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Totowa, New Jersey.[19] His death left a vacancy in the 9th congressional district. Nellie Pou, who'd succeeded Pascrell in the state legislature decades earlier, won the 2024 election to succeed him in Congress.[6]

Personal Life

Pascrell never left Paterson. He maintained deep roots there throughout his entire career and had three children.[20] His family remained active in New Jersey politics after his death. In 2025, the Pascrell family endorsed Essex County Commissioner Brendan Gill in his Congressional campaign in New Jersey's 11th Congressional District, showing the Pascrell name's continued influence in North Jersey Democratic politics.[21]

Recognition

Several posthumous honors came Pascrell's way after his death, reflecting his long service to New Jersey and Congress.

Congressional Baseball Hall of Fame

In June 2025, Pascrell was posthumously inducted into the Congressional Baseball Hall of Fame. The honor recognized his years playing in the annual Congressional Baseball Game. By 2024, his final season, he'd become one of the game's most recognizable figures.[18][22]

Paterson Great Falls Renaming

On May 13, 2025, the House passed legislation from Congressman Frank Pallone (NJ-06) to rename two prominent sites at Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park in honor of Pascrell. The bill passed with overwhelming support, reflecting bipartisan recognition of his contributions to Paterson and his decades of public service.[23][24]

William J. Pascrell Jr. Highway

In October 2025, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy joined the Pascrell family to officially designate Route 19 as the "William J. Pascrell Jr. Highway." Route 19 runs through Paterson and the surrounding area, making it a fitting tribute to someone whose career was tied to the city.[25]

Legacy

Bill Pascrell's legacy centers on his decades of service to Paterson and broader northern New Jersey. From the state legislature through the mayor's office and more than 27 years in Congress, he remained a constant fixture in the region's political life. His career embodied a traditional model of urban Democratic politics in the Northeast, built on strong constituent service and community ties.

His work on traumatic brain injury represents one of his most substantive legislative contributions. Programs he championed continue getting reauthorized in Congress after his death, which reflects the lasting impact of his efforts.[26]

Multiple posthumous honors show the respect he earned. Sites at Paterson Great Falls got renamed. Route 19 became the William J. Pascrell Jr. Highway. He was inducted into the Congressional Baseball Hall of Fame. His successor in Congress, Nellie Pou, had herself succeeded Pascrell in the state legislature back in 1997, creating a political lineage spanning nearly three decades.[6]

Pascrell's military service, his Fordham education, and his long government career marked him as a figure whose public life encompassed many major themes of late 20th- and early 21st-century American politics. Urban governance mattered. Congressional advocacy mattered. Representing diverse northern New Jersey communities mattered.

References

  1. ↑ "PASCRELL, William James, Jr.". 'Biographical Directory of the United States Congress}'. Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  2. ↑ "PASCRELL, William James, Jr.". 'Biographical Directory of the United States Congress}'. Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  3. ↑ "PASCRELL, William James, Jr.". 'Biographical Directory of the United States Congress}'. Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  4. ↑ "PASCRELL, William James, Jr.". 'Biographical Directory of the United States Congress}'. Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  5. ↑ "PASCRELL, William James, Jr.". 'Biographical Directory of the United States Congress}'. Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 "First-term NJ congresswoman facing intensifying attacks from both sides".New Jersey Monitor.August 26, 2025.https://newjerseymonitor.com/2025/08/26/first-term-nj-congresswoman-facing-intensifying-attacks-from-both-sides/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  7. ↑ "PASCRELL, William James, Jr.". 'Biographical Directory of the United States Congress}'. Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  8. ↑ "PASCRELL, William James, Jr.". 'Biographical Directory of the United States Congress}'. Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  9. ↑ "Congressman Bill Pascrell, Jr.". 'Office of Congressman Bill Pascrell, Jr.}'. Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  10. ↑ "Ticketmaster Says Scalpers System as Springsteen Goes on Sale".Bloomberg Businessweek.2012-01-29.http://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-01-29/ticketmaster-says-scalpers-system-as-springsteen-goes-on-sale.html.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  11. ↑ "NJ Rep. Bill Pascrell Slams Ticketmaster".NBC New York.http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/NY-Jersey-Rep-Bill-Pascrell-Slams-Ticketmaster-Following--138219294.html.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  12. ↑ "NJ lawmakers shocked by shooting of Congresswoman Giffords".The Record (Bergen County).2011-01-08.http://www.northjersey.com/news/010811_NJ_lawmakers_shocked_by_by_shooting_of_Congresswoman_Giffords.html?page=all.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  13. ↑ "Congressman Bill Pascrell, Jr.". 'Office of Congressman Bill Pascrell, Jr.}'. Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  14. ↑ "Senator Kim and Colleagues Support Traumatic Brain Injury Patients with Critical Reauthorization". 'Office of Senator Andy Kim}'. September 24, 2025. Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  15. ↑ "U.S. Rep. Steve Rothman's challenge".NJ.com.http://blog.nj.com/njv_editorial_page/2011/12/us_rep_steve_rothmans_challeng.html.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  16. ↑ "Dems square off to stay in Congress".Daily Record.2011-12-28.http://www.dailyrecord.com/article/CN/20111228/NJNEWS/312280015/Dems-square-off-stay-Congress?odyssey=mod_sectionstories.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  17. ↑ "Congressman Bill Pascrell, Jr.". 'Office of Congressman Bill Pascrell, Jr.}'. Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 "Pascrell, late stalwart of Congressional Baseball Game, inducted into Hall of Fame".New Jersey Globe.June 11, 2025.https://newjerseyglobe.com/congress/pascrell-late-stalwart-of-congressional-baseball-game-inducted-into-hall-of-fame/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  19. ↑ "PASCRELL, William James, Jr.". 'Biographical Directory of the United States Congress}'. Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  20. ↑ "PASCRELL, William James, Jr.". 'Biographical Directory of the United States Congress}'. Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  21. ↑ "The Family of the Late Congressman Bill Pascrell Endorses Brendan Gill for Congress".Insider NJ.2025.https://www.insidernj.com/press-release/the-family-of-the-late-congressman-bill-pascrell-endorses-brendan-gill-for-congress/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  22. ↑ "Bill Pascrell Inducted into Congressional Baseball Hall of Fame".Insider NJ.June 12, 2025.https://www.insidernj.com/bill-pascrell-inducted-into-congressional-baseball-hall-of-fame/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  23. ↑ "House Passes Pallone Bill to Honor Bill Pascrell at Paterson Great Falls". 'Office of Congressman Frank Pallone}'. May 13, 2025. Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  24. ↑ "House passes bill to rename parts of Paterson Great Falls after late Bill Pascrell Jr.".The Record (Bergen County).May 13, 2025.https://www.northjersey.com/story/news/passaic/paterson/2025/05/13/paterson-nj-great-falls-could-renamed-bill-pascrell/83610313007/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  25. ↑ "Governor Murphy Joins the Pascrell Family to Designate Route 19 as the "William J. Pascrell Jr. Highway"".Insider NJ.October 3, 2025.https://www.insidernj.com/press-release/governor-murphy-joins-the-pascrell-family-to-designate-route-19-as-the-william-j-pascrell-jr-highway/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  26. ↑ "Senator Kim and Colleagues Support Traumatic Brain Injury Patients with Critical Reauthorization". 'Office of Senator Andy Kim}'. September 24, 2025. Retrieved 2026-02-24.
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