Patricia Alessandrini, an 85-year-old Teaneck activist who ran for office five times as a Green Party candidate between 2003 and 2013, died on July 11.
A former nurse and teacher, Alessandrini organized protests for racial justice, opposition to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and solidarity for Palestine.
She was the Green Party candidate for State Assembly in the 37th district in 2003, finishing fifth out of six candidates with 1,063 votes (1.5%) against incumbents Loretta Weinberg (D-Teaneck) and Gordon Johnson (D-Englewood).
In 2008, Alessandrini ran for Bergen County Freeholder against two Democratic incumbents, Bernadette McPherson and David Ganz. She received 6,262 votes, slightly under 1%, and finished fifth in a field of six candidates.
Alessandrini ran for Congress in 2010, receiving 1,970 votes (1.4%) against Rep Steve Rothman D-Fair Lawn) in what was then the 9th district; she finished third with 81,584 votes behind Rothman.
Two years later, after redistricting placed her in the 5th district, Alessandrini took on Rep. Scott Garrett (R-Wantage) and lost by 160,731 with a third-place finish. She received 6,770 votes (2.2%).
Her final race came in 2013 when she was the Green Party candidate for Lt. Governor on a ticket headed by Steve Welzer. Her slate finished fourth in a field of eight contenders; the Welzer/ Alessandrini ticket received 7,295 votes (0.4%).
Alessandrini is survived by her two children and her granddaughter. She was predeceased by her husband and her longtime companion, Irwin Nack, a former president of the American Federation of Teachers Local 1796.
A memorial service will be held at Saint Anastasia Church in Teaneck on Friday, July 19 at 10 AM.