Pat Kramer – Beloved Former Mayor of Paterson – has Died

Lawrence “Pat” Kramer, the beloved former four-term mayor of Paterson who loved the city, its people and the public processes of government and politics, has died.

He was 90.

Mr. Kramer served as mayor of Silk City from 1967 to 1972 and from 1975 to 1982.

A Republican, he was preceded in his first term as mayor by Frank Graves and succeeded by Acting Mayor Dryer. In his second run he was preceded by Thomas Rooney and succeeded by Graves.

Mr. Kramer ran for governor in 1981 and lost in the GOP Primary to Thomas Kean, Sr.

Today, U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-9) issued the following statement of mourning:

“Today our Paterson community mourns the loss of a true public servant and a pillar of our city, Pat Kramer. I have known Pat most of my life and he was a brilliant advisor, collaborator, and friend. Pat had a very special sense of humor that could bring everybody up when they were down. He just made people feel good. I have met great leaders in all walks of life. But few people, anywhere, have done more to help others and have dedicated themselves more to their community than Pat. Through force of will Pat and his wife Mary Ellen brought President Ford to our city and began the process of preserving the Great Falls Historic District, the crown jewel of our city. As we reflect on Pat’s life today, I want people to understand that he dedicated his whole life for our city. My prayers are with Pat’s children and Roseanne, his stalwart partner. His kids and mine grew up together and they reflect the high character of their father. We’ve lost part of Paterson’s soul that can never be replaced, but others will come forward to serve their city and their neighbors. And that’s what Pat was all about. Rest in peace, my friend.”

Born in 1933 and raised on East 42nd Street between 18th and 18th Avenues, Mr. Kramer was the fifth child and first son born to Lawrence and Ann Kramer, according to his biography on the Paterson Great Falls website. He came to Paterson from Brooklyn and ran a road-construction business. He and Ann, whom he met at a party in Bellville, married and lived the rest of their lives in Paterson.

“Kramer attended School No. 20 and Central High School, now John F. Kennedy High School. Living only two blocks from Eastside Park, he and his friends always played baseball and football there. He counted among his friends Teddy Rosenberg, Charlie Jacobs, Cordy Gorham, Hugo Munzer, and Charlie Parmelli.

“The only time Kramer left Paterson was to attend Clemons University. His father’s death pre-empted his studies. He returned to New Jersey and finished his degree at Fairleigh Dickinson University. In 1966, he began to seriously think about deteriorating conditions in Paterson and he wanted to improve them. He ran successfully for mayor on the Republican ticket. Some main goals were to improve education and keep taxes in line.”

Said Mr. Kramer as part of an oral history taken by the national park:

“I was born and raised in Paterson, only away for the college years and then came home and started getting concerned with a group of other folks that we felt there was some things that should be happening in Paterson that weren’t happening. And the way to do it was to go see what you could do to elect a mayor. I got the short straw. This is now 1966 that we first ran for office. It took off and was successful. And the campaign took office January 1, 1967.”

(Visited 1,137 times, 181 visits today)