Sam McGhee, former Hillside mayor, dies of coronavirus-related illness

Samuel McGhee, a former mayor of Hillside, has died of an illness related to COVID-19.  He was 79.

McGhee lost his first bid for public office, a bid for Union County freeholder in the 1984 Democratic primary.  He allowed his name to be used by the Regular Hillside Democrats in order to help off-the-line Democratic county committee candidates secure better placement on the ballot.

He ran for Hillside township committeeman in 1986 and won.  In 1988, he became the first African American mayor of Hillside.

McGhee was re-elected to the township committee twice and served as mayor two more times.

He was a high school history teacher and later spent 32 years as dean of admissions at New Jersey City University.

McGhee served on the Union County Improvement Authority and as executive director of the Joint Meeting of Essex & Union Counties, a wastewater facility that serves fifteen municipalities.