Harrison Mayor Ray McDonough dead at 65 (updated at 2 p.m. Thursday)

HARRISON —

Longtime Harrison Mayor Raymond McDonough, 65, collapsed at Town Hall and died of an apparent heart attack on Wednesday afternoon, officials said.

McDonough had just finished one meeting and was getting ready for another when he was stricken, according to Councilman Larry Bennett. It was President’s Day, so the Municipal Building was closed, but the mayor had scheduled some town business to tackle. He was rushed to St. Michael’s Medical Center, Newark, where he was pronounced.

After his passing, the Town Council directed flags to fly at half staff and arranged to have black bunting draped from the front entrance of the Town Hall as a memorial to the deceased mayor.

Funeral plans have yet to be completed, according to Bennett.

McDonough, who had served 17 years on the Harrison Town Council, was beginning his 20th year as mayor and the final year of his current four-year term as chief executive.

– Ron Leir

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