The AHEPA family has expressed deep sadness at the passing of U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ), a longtime, staunch member of the Congressional Caucus on Hellenic Issues.

Congressman Pascrell will always be remembered fondly by the American Hellenic community as a lead sponsor of legislation to award posthumously Constantino Brumidi, the painters of the renowned U.S. Capitol frescoes, with the Congressional Gold Medal when he served as co-chair of the Congressional Italian American Caucus. Thanks to his passion and determination, the bill became law, and Brumidi, who was of Italian and Greek ancestry, received his long overdue honor. In his floor remarks, Pascrell graciously credited the dynamic coalition of Greek American and Italian American groups that advocated for the bill’s passage – that included citing AHEPA specifically.

AHEPA issued a statement that expressed, among other sentiments, that “Rep. Pascrell was a true friend of the American Hellenic community. He supported our community’s domestic and foreign policy priorities and recently attended the AHEPA 46th Biennial Congressional Banquet in May. Our deepest sympathies and condolences are with the Pascrell family. May his memory be eternal.”