Rosemary Pramuk, ex-mayor, longtime Senate staffer, dies at 79

Rosemary E. Pramuk, who served as a Senate Republican staffer for nearly 30 years, died on August 19 after a brief hospitalization.  She was 79.

She was a former mayor and township committeewoman in Robbinsville when it was known as Washington Township.

Pramuk joined the Senate staff in 1983, working in the Senate Minority Office until Republicans won the majority in 1991, and then again after Democrats regained control in 2003.  She was the longtime Senate Republican Budget director, working with multiple Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee chairs, including Robert Littell (R-Franklin).

“Rosemary was indispensable to us on the Republican side,” said former Rep. Leonard Lance (R-Clinton Township), who served as Senate Minority Leader and as the Senate Republican Budget Officer.

Pramuk became a candidate for township committeewoman in 1990 after Republican C. Herbert Schneider declined to run for re-election.  Pramuk and her running mate, Edward Nelson, defeated Democratic incumbent Michael Silvestrov and his running mate, Michael Catana.

Pramuk and Nelson ran unopposed in 1993.  She was re-elected in 1996 on a ticket with Curt Macysyn; they defeated Democrats Mark Setaro and Diane Lambregste by about 500 votes.  (Setaro had been the Democratic nominee for Congress in 1990, receiving 34.5% of the vote against Rep. Christopher Smith.)

She mayor in 1993 and 1997.

Her career as an elected official came to an end in 1999 when she and Macysyn lost the Republican primary to Dick Folsom and Doug Tindall by about 25 votes.  She later served on the Planning Board.

Pramuk also served on the Mercer County Open Space Preservation Board.

Her death came just one week after another budget expert, Mary Messenger of the Assembly Democratic staff, died.

“It is tragic that both of them died within a week of each other,” Lance said.  “This was an example of the promotion of talented women.”

According to the Senate Republican staff, Pramuk helped create the state’s Children’s Catastrophic Illness Relief Fund to help families pay medical bills that weren’t covered under insurance.

She was respected by members and staff from both parties as a loyal friend and a fair but tough-as-nails ‘staffer’s staffer’ throughout her career.  She was quick with a story or a laugh with friends of both parties,” Senate Republicans said in an email.  “She was equally quick with colorful words for those who thought too highly of themselves or lost sight of the citizenry they served.”

Pramuk’s husband, Edward, died in 2015.  She is survived by her children and grandchildren.

There will be no public services.

“For those who want to honor her memory, fighting hard for your beliefs, respecting and listening to everyone regardless of party, and taking time out from work for a good laugh will suffice,” the Senate Republicans said.