January 19, 2009 - 9:31am
News

Frank MacCormack, Hudson Republican who challenged Sacco and Elwell, dies at 85

Frank MacCormack, a Hudson County Republican who waged numerous campaigns for public office over the last six decades, passed away on Sunday evening.  He was 85 and suffered a heart attack while having dinner.

MacCormack made three unsuccessful bids for Mayor of Secaucus and lost races for Councilman.  He won election to the Board of Education and served as School Board President in the 1960’s.  He later served as Secaucus Republican Municipal Chairman.

In 2001, at age 78, he became a candidate for State Senator in the Hudson-based District 32, which includes a small part of Bergen County.  Running as a support of then-gubernatorial candidate Bret Schundler, MacCormack defeated North Bergen’s John Pluchino in the GOP primary with 73% of the vote.   He lost the general election to incumbent Nicholas Sacco by a wide margin.

His son, Frank MacCormack, Jr., played major league baseball for the Detroit Tigers in 1976 and the Seattle Mariners in 1977.    

Visitation will be on Tuesday from 2-4 PM and 7-9 PM at Mack Memorial Home in Secaucus.  Funeral services will be held at 10AM on Thursday.

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