Patrick L. Pasculli, who served as the mayor of Hoboken from 1988 to 1993 and played a key role in retaining local development control of the city’s waterfront and not ceding it to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, died today. He was 78.
“Mayor Pasculli dedicated many years of service to Hoboken and stepped forward to lead our City during a time of significant change. As Hoboken was transitioning from its industrial past and beginning to see new redevelopment and investment, he worked to help guide the community forward while continuing to serve its residents,” said Hoboken Mayor Emily Jabbour. “He took pride in celebrating Hoboken’s unique history and ensured that our city received the rightful recognition as the birthplace of the first organized game of baseball, which is a distinction that remains an important part of Hoboken’s identity today.”
Pasculli was elected to a ward council seat in 1983, ousting incumbent Nunzio Malfretti in a runoff election. He later became council president and became mayor in March 1988 after Thomas Vezzetti died in office at age 59.
In a November 1988 special election to fill the remaining eight months of Vezzetti’s term, Pasculli defeated Joseph Della Fave, a ward councilman, by about 350 votes, a 51%-49% margin. That election triggered an FBI investigation into allegations of voter fraud.
The FBI closely monitored the May 1989 election for a full four-year term. Pasculli won a rematch with Della Fave by roughly 600 votes.
He did not seek re-election in 1993 and was succeeded by Anthony Russo. Pasculli, a public school teacher, returned to his classroom full-time.
Pasculli was not related to Patrick C. Pasculli, a Bayonne funeral director who served one term in the State Assembly from 1978 to 1980.
