New Jersey Congressman Bill pascrell has died the 87-year-old tough-talking Democrat from Patterson spent 14 terms in Congress pescal had been hospitalized in July for a respiratory infection and was moved to a rehabilitation facility earlier this month but was rushed back to the hospital just days later in a statement today his family said in part quote 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 before joining Congress in 1997 pascarell served as Paterson's mayor and in the State Assembly he was widely known for his sharp criticisms of Donald Trump but was also a fierce advocate for First Responders and led the successful fight in getting Paterson's Great Falls included in the National Park system Governor Murphy today called pascrell a giant of New Jersey and a lifelong Champion for our most vulnerable neighbors I'm joined Now by someone who spent considerable time working with the congressman that's assemblywoman Shavonda Sumter Shavonda Sumter who joins us from Chicago assemblywoman thanks so much uh and our condolences to you thank you thank you so much Briana thank you so much NJ Spotlight for taking time to remember one of our great our fighter our Congressman Bill pasel he was a mentor he was a friend he really loved fighting for New Jersey and for the least of those he's going to be missed and here at the convention we're all talking about the fighter that he was when he was willing to jump in there and make sure that he protected the least of those and that kind of fighter just don't find every day and what I've been saying is he did it like Frank sonaka he did it his way he was unabashed in that way and definitely was known to deliver some solid one liners I wonder what kind of stories you all are sharing uh given the chance that you happen to all be together today oh we've been sharing stories from uh when uh he had um a Brendan Gil as a staffer of Michelle's here so we shared a tearful moment in a hog on the you kind of have to wrap your mind around these things none of us ever thought that would in fact fight and come back and and do what he does for us uh we were talking about the work that he did to highlight firefighters emergency responders and our police officers I mean this man uh really just leaned in for the service workers the work that he did in infrastructure uh so we're hitting It All We Are hitting it all uh just remembering that a great legislator is someone who puts himself second uh and we're sort of remembering him like Uncle Joe who was selfless in this political world and put people first I wonder assembly woman if there were any you know words of wisdom that he left you or uh paths that he helped you down along your career oh absolutely he was the first mayor that I knew growing up in the city Patterson he was also an assemblyman and then of course ascended to the Congress I got to work with him closely on the revitalization of pinch Cliff Stadium naming the Great Falls as a national park uh Aid Abid AB love love love for Patterson and also just taking care of our servicemen and women and making sure that mental health was a priority benefits was a priority for them so his legislative career is something that I admire and that I also aspire to achieve and keeping people first and Service First and the work that I do JY assembly assemblyman woman very quickly out of respect for the congressman we're not going to talk about the jockeying for his seat but you did consider a primary against him you have made it known that seeking federal office is something that's in your sights will you at least uh put your name out there to be considered uh for someone who might be the nominee now so Ranna at this time we're sending love to his family and our deepest condolences uh during the earlier part of the year I raised my hand to show that I was interested in the seat um should it become available and decided to respect the congressman's uh interest in continuing the term U so we'll deal with those things as they come forth right now sending love to the family absolutely assemblywoman Shavonda Sumter thank you so much thank you for having me