Peter Eagler, a former Clifton councilman, assemblyman, freeholder, dies at age 69
CLIFTON — On Saturday morning the city lost one of its most dedicated public servants with the death of former Councilman Peter Eagler, who was 69.
Eagler was first elected to the City Council in 1990. He served until 2022, when he chose not to seek reelection. In between he served as a state assemblyman and a Passaic County freeholder, a post now called commissioner.
He died at Hackensack University Medical Center in Hackensack.
"Peter was a humble, honorable public servant, who always thought about the people first. He was a man of great faith in God," former Mayor James Anzaldi said. "He worked tirelessly to welcome people in our diverse community, no matter what nationality, religion or creed." Anzaldi also chose not to seek reelection in 2022.
Eagler served on the council from 1990 to 2002. In 1996, he was elected to what was then the Passaic County Board of Chosen Freeholders. He served on both elected bodies until 2002. At that time he stepped down from the council and ran for a state Assembly seat. He served two terms as assemblyman for the 34th District.
In 2006 he ran for City Council again and won. He also won in 2010, 2014 and 2018. In 2022, while battling cancer, he decided not to run for reelection.
"He was a faithful and good servant of the people of Clifton. Others in public life should follow his example of working with his colleagues to make good things happen," Anzaldi said. "We have all lost a very good friend of our hometown."
Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr., D-Paterson, said Eagler's "sense of civic responsibility to our Clifton community was bottomless, his dedication to helping others was tireless. I send my love and respect to his family and everyone else who knew Peter. I am in real mourning today."
While serving as an elected official, Eagler had two careers with the state government. He worked with what was then the New Jersey Highway Authority as a safety inspector and later was in charge of organizing the heritage festivals at the Garden State Performing Arts Center, now named for PNC Bank, said his friend Gerald Zecker, a former Clifton mayor and occasional political rival.
After Eagler left the Assembly, he went to work for NJ Transit.
"He was a nice guy and a gentleman," Zecker said. "He was respected by both Democrats and Republicans."
Eagler was born in Clifton and raised in Garfield, then moved back to Clifton, Zecker said. He graduated from Pope Paul VI High School in Clifton and earned a degree in political science and Russian area studies from Fairleigh Dickinson University in 1976.
He is survived by his sister, Virginia, and was predeceased by his parents, David and Olga Eagler, and a brother, John.
Eagler's former peers on the Clifton City Council said he will be sorely missed.
"Kind and compassionate, he served Clifton with pride and integrity," said Mayor Ray Grabowski. "He was a cornucopia of information both historically and politically. As a councilman, Peter had a vast knowledge of the workings of our form of government. Peter leaves a big void in many of our lives."
Viewing will be Wednesday from 4 to 8 p.m. at Shook Funeral Home at 639 Van Houten Ave. in Clifton. On Thursday, there will be visitation from 4 to 7 p.m. at Holy Resurrection Russian Orthodox Church in Wayne. A funeral service will be held at 7 p.m. at the church on Thursday. An Orthodox Christian service will be held on Friday at 10 a.m., at the church, followed by burial at East Ridgelawn Cemetery in Clifton.
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Former Clifton Councilman Peter Eagler dies at age 69
