PATERSON, N.J. (PIX11) -- New Jersey Congressman Bill Pascrell Jr. died Wednesday. He was 87.
The lifelong resident and former Mayor of Paterson had endured several long hospital stays in recent weeks.
If Pascrell had been re-elected this November, he would have become the oldest member of Congress representing NJ-9, which includes parts of Bergen, Passaic and Hudson Counties.
Never afraid of throwing big elbows to help the little guy, friends and colleagues remember Pascrell as a Democratic champion for the working-class people of the Ninth District.
"We're never going to find another Bill Pascrell," said Congressman Frank Pallone Jr. (D-NJ6).
Pallone spoke fondly about Pascrell Wednesday afternoon from the DNC in Chicago. He called Pascrell his best friend in Congress.
"He was unique, what I'd call old school," Pallone said. "He wanted to help people. It was the only reason he got involved in politics. He didn't care if he was in the limelight or if people loved him or didn't. He just did what he thought was right."
Pascrell was elected to Congress in 1996 but had already earned a reputation in New Jersey as fiercely outspoken.
Before 28 years in Washington, Pascrell was a history teacher who muscled his way to the top of Paterson's Democratic establishment. He served in the New Jersey General Assembly and as Mayor of his hometown.
"His seat was down in front," recalled former Assemblymember John Wisniewski. "When he spoke, you could hear a pin drop because you came to expect the very best."
In recent years, Pascrell devoted much of his biting rhetoric to former President Trump.
Pallone said it was because he did not like how Trump treated working people and feared an existential threat to Democracy.
As for replacing Pascrell on the November ballot, per state law, hundreds of country-level Democratic Party committee members must vote by next week. This sets the stage for the old-school, behind-the-scenes arm-twisting at which the pugnacious Pascrell excelled.
"I'm sure he's looking down with a smirk at the scramble that had to go on to fill his seat," Wisniewski said with a smile.
Pascrell is survived by his wife, Elsie, three children and six grandchildren.
