Former Hillside Mayor and long-time educator Sam McGhee has died from of a illness related to COVID-19. He was 79.
McGhee, who died this past Wednesday, was also a former chair of the WBGO Board of Trustees. McGhee spent much of his life in public office.
After losing a bid for Union County freeholder in the 1984 Democratic Primary, he eventually ran for Hillside Township committee in 1986 and won. Two years later McGhee became the first African-American Mayor of Hillside.
McGhee was a high school history teacher and later spent 32 years as dean of admissions at New Jersey City University.
