Lauren Murphy, a three-term Clifton city councilwoman, and the Democratic municipal chair, died on January 13 after a long battle with cancer. She was 69.
Gov. Phil Murphy said on Sunday that Lauren Murphy “leaves behind an incredible legacy of public service and charity.
“Our hearts go out to her family, friends, and all who loved her,” he said. “In her role as municipal Democratic leader, she helped deliver victory for Passaic County Democratic candidates year in and year out. I can’t imagine running in an election without her support and counsel.”
Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-Paterson) called Murphy “smart aggressive and caring.”
“Lauren Murphy loved Clifton and Passaic County and dedicated her life to making our community better,” said Pascrell. “Lauren was a loyal and valued friend to me and so many others.”
Murphy was elected to the city council in 2014, the first contest after Clifton moved its non-partisan municipal elections from May to November. Fifteen candidates sought seven council seats; incumbents James Anzaldi, Peter Eagler, Matthew Grabowski, Steven Halata, and Joseph Kolodziej were re-elected, with Bill Gibson and Murphy ousting Councilwoman Mary Sadrakula; Murphy won the seventh seat, outpolling the eighth place finisher, former Councilman Joe Cupoli, by 147 votes.
She was re-elected in 2018, finishing third in a field of thirteen candidates. In 2022, Murphy won her third term after coming in third out of fifteen candidates.
She spent 34 years working for the Passaic County Board of Social Services before retiring nine years ago.
“She helped countless local residents get a leg up at the Board of Social Services and as Director of the One Stop Career Center,” Pascrell said. “Her sense of civic charity to her neighbors in need was bottomless.”