🕊️ PLAINFIELD COUNCILMAN CHARLES MCRAE DIES AT 73
Plainfield City Councilman Charles McRae has died at age 73. A longtime resident and community leader, McRae served the Third Ward since 2017 and was known for mentoring local youth and chairing the Diamond Foundation.
📍 PLAINFIELD, NJ — Plainfield is mourning the loss of longtime community leader and City Councilman Charles McRae, who has died at the age of 73.
McRae represented Plainfield's Third Ward and had served on the City Council since January 2017. He was serving his third four-year term, which was scheduled to run through the end of 2028. Plainfield municipal records list McRae as the Third Ward councilman in 2026.
Council Vice President Steve Hockaday announced McRae's passing Saturday, remembering him as a colleague, friend and fraternity brother.
🏛️ During his years in city government, McRae served as Council President twice, in 2018 and 2023. He also held leadership positions on multiple committees and represented the Council on the Plainfield Planning Board.
🤝 McRae's community involvement extended well beyond City Hall. He was active with the Cedarbrook Block Association and the Plainfield Democratic City Committee, while also dedicating significant time to youth and community programs.
🎓 Hockaday highlighted McRae's commitment to young people, noting that he mentored more than 70 young men and established a scholarship recognizing community service. A scholarship carrying McRae's name has also supported Plainfield-area graduating seniors pursuing higher education.
McRae was a native of Elizabeth and a longtime Plainfield resident of 43 years. He was a charter member of the Eta Epsilon Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. at Rutgers University and remained involved with the fraternity's New Brunswick Alumni Chapter.
🏅 In November 2024, McRae was recognized by Kappa Alpha Psi for his service. He also served as the first chairman of the Diamond Foundation, Inc. and continued as a member of its board.
Hockaday said his relationship with McRae went beyond their work together on the City Council, describing their fraternity brotherhood and shared commitment to public service as an important part of their connection.
❤️ “It is difficult to imagine the Council without him,” Hockaday said while extending condolences to McRae's wife, Sylvia, his daughters, grandchildren and other family members.
At this time, additional details regarding the circumstances and cause of McRae's death have not been publicly released, and funeral arrangements were not immediately available.
🕯️ Garden State News Network extends our condolences to Councilman Charles McRae's family, friends, colleagues and everyone in the Plainfield community who knew him.
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