(Jewish Link Staff) U.S. Representative Bill Pascrell Jr., who represented New Jersey’s 9th congressional district for 28 years, died on Wednesday, August 21 at the age of 87 after a weeks-long illness.

Pascrell, a native of Paterson, lived his entire life in the city where he eventually served as mayor. He was a U.S. Army veteran, and had been planning to seek his 15th term in the House of Representatives this November.