Patrick Scanlon, former Union mayor, dies at 67 – New Jersey Globe | New Jersey Politics
Former Union Township Mayor Patrick J. Scanlon III, whose parents both served in the New Jersey Legislature, died on August 5. He was 67.
Scanlon was elected to the Union Township Committee in 1998, along with fellow Democrat Brenda Restivo. They defeated Republicans Charles Minton and Olga Ferrreira and independents Richard Felber and Arthur Guarriello.
He served as deputy mayor in 2001 and as mayor in 2002.
As a local officeholder, Scanlon raised funds from local business to construct the Memorial Plaza in honor of eight township residents who died in the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center.
Scanlon was re-elected in 2001 and 2004.
Born in the Vailsburg section of Newark, Scanlon began a career as an Essex County Corrections officer after attending St. Peter’s College and Seton Hall University. He was an officer of PBA Local 382 prior to his retirement.
Scanlon founded and ran an assistance program for employees with substance abuse issues. He started the Genesis Alcohol and Drug Treatment facility at Union Hospital, a program that he eventually ran.
His father, Patrick J. Scanlon, Jr., a career law enforcement official, was elected to the New Jersey State Assembly in 1975 and was seeking re-election to a second term when he died in June 1977.
Essex County Democrats nominated his mother, Mary O’Grady Scanlon, a clerk typist in the County Clerk’s office, to fill his seat. She served one term as an assemblywoman, from 1978 to 1980. Mary Scanlon died in 2002, weeks after her son became mayor.
In 2003, his wife, Deborah, won a seat on the Union County Board of Freeholders.
Scanlon became vice president of Union Center National Bank, now Connect One, in 2004. His focus was community banking and Government Financial Affairs. Along with other proud members of the Irish-American organizations, Scanlon founded the Union County, St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee, in 2005. The parade is now one of the largest in the state.
Union Township Democrats took control of the township committee in 1997, when incumbent Anthony Terrezza and newcomer Peter Capodice defeated GOP incumbent RIchard McMillan and former township administrator Louis Giacona.
Democrats have retained control since then, propelling the architect of the local victories, municipal chairman Joseph Cryan, to a career as Assembly Majority Leader, Democratic State Chairman, Union County Sheriff, and now as a State Senator.
Scanlon and Cryan were longtime friends and political allies. Scanlon’s father was the Essex County Sheriff when Cryan’s father, John F. Cryan was the Sheriff.
In addition to his wife, the former freeholder, Scanlon is survived by his three children, Tammie, Lisa and Patrick Scanlon IV, and ten grandchildren. His brother, Michael, the former chief voting machine mechanic for the Essex County Board of Elections, died in 2017.
Visitation will be held from 4-8 PM on Monday at The Jacob A. Holle Funeral Home in Maplewood. The funeral mass will be private due to COVID 19 restrictions.