Patricia Q. Sheehan

Patricia Q. Sheehan, a dedicated public servant and a pioneering leader in New Brunswick, passed away on November 17, 2025, at the age of 91.

Pat grew up in Newark, NJ, the daughter of Irish immigrants. She married Daniel M. Sheehan and moved to New Brunswick in the late fifties. Daniel passed away in 1961. He was serving as a City Commissioner in New Brunswick at that time. Pat stayed in New Brunswick and raised their three children, Elizabeth (Betsy), Daniel, Jr., and Michael. In 1967 Pat joined a campaign ticket, The New Five, to reform New Brunswick city government. After a successful campaign, Pat was chosen by her peers to serve as Mayor. She was the first woman to be selected Mayor in the City of New Brunswick and the County of Middlesex. Since the job of Mayor was considered a parttime position, she was also employed by the Johnson & Johnson Corporation.

In 1974, Pat was appointed by NJ Governor Brendan T. Byrne, to his cabinet to be the first woman Commissioner of the Department of Community Affairs. In that role, she also served as Chair of the Hackensack Meadowlands Development Commission, Chair of the NJ Housing Finance Agency, Member of the NJ Sports and Exposition Authority (NJSEA), Member of the NJ Mortgage Finance Agency and Member of the NJ Capitol Planning Commission. During her tenure on the NJSEA, Giants Stadium and the Meadowlands Racetrack were developed and opened.

In his second term, Governor Byrne appointed Pat to serve as Executive Director, Hackensack Meadowlands Development Commission. She worked with Mayors and other senior officials in the Meadowlands to improve the blighted and polluted area.

In 1980, Pat returned to Johnson & Johnson as Manager, Corporate Relations, in the Government Affairs Department. She retired in 1993.

Pat also served as a volunteer on numerous community and educational organizations’ boards and committees, including American Association of Malta, Saint Peter University, and New Brunswick Sister Cities International.

Pat moved to Monmouth County in 1995. She remained active in local Democratic politics in Avon. She maintained her love of Giants football and hosted numerous family gatherings including the infamous Turkey Day II each Saturday after Thanksgiving.

Patricia is survived by her daughter, Betsy (Elizabeth) Garlatti and her husband Lou of New Brunswick; her son, Mike Sheehan and his wife Karen of Newark; her grandchildren, McAfee and Balthazar Sheehan, and Peter Garlatti and his wife Melissa; and her great-granddaughter, Shannon Garlatti. Her brother-in-law, David Sheehan resides in Bucks County, PA. She was preceded in death by her husband, Daniel Sheehan Sr. (1961), and her son, Daniel Sheehan Jr. (2006).

Visitation will be held on November 21, 2025, from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Crabiel Parkwest Funeral Chapel, located at 239 Livingston Ave, New Brunswick, NJ 08901. Funeral Mass will be held at St. Peter the Apostle Parish located at 92 Somerset St., New Brunswick, NJ at 10:00 AM November 22, 2025. Interment will follow at St. Peter Cemetery in New Brunswick.

Patricia Q. Sheehan leaves behind a remarkable legacy of service and dedication, and she will be profoundly missed by all who had the privilege of knowing her.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Saint Joseph High School, 145 Plainfield Ave., Metuchen, NJ 08840 Attention Daniel Sheehan, Jr. Scholarship or St. Peter’s University, 2641 Kennedy Blvd, Jersey City, NJ 07306 Attention the Patricia Q. Sheehan Scholarship.

Professional services entrusted to Crabiel Parkwest Funeral Chapel of New Brunswick, NJ. Please visit www.crabielparkwest.com to sign the online guestbook.