Lizette Parker

Lizette Parker
Mayor of Teaneck, New Jersey
In office
July 1, 2014 – April 24, 2016
Preceded by Mohammed Hameeduddin
Succeeded by Elie Y. Katz (acting)
Personal details
Born (1971-08-31)August 31, 1971
New York City
Died April 24, 2016(2016-04-24) (aged 44)
Teaneck, New Jersey
Spouse(s) Tony Parker
Residence Teaneck, New Jersey

Lizette Parker (August 31, 1971 – April 24, 2016) was an American politician and social worker. She served as the Mayor of Teaneck, New Jersey, from 2014 until her death in April 2016. Parker was the first African-American woman to serve as Mayor of Teaneck, as well as the first African-American woman to serve as the mayor of any municipality in Bergen County, the state's most populous county.[1][2] Coincidentally, she succeeded former Mayor Mohammed Hameeduddin, who became the first Muslim to become the Mayor of a Bergen County community in 2010.

Early life

Parker was born in New York City and raised in Teaneck, New Jersey. She graduated from Teaneck High School.[3][2] She received her Bachelor of Arts in sociology from Montclair State University.[2] She also earned a master's degree in administrative science from Fairleigh Dickinson University.[2] Parker worked as a case worker and social work supervisor at the Bergen County Board of Social Services from 1992 until 2016.[1] She had served on the Teaneck Township Council from 2006 until her death in 2016.[1]

Mayoralty

Parker was re-elected to the council in the Teaneck municipal election on May 13, 2014, receiving the most votes of any member of the council.[4] On July 1, 2014, the council unanimously elected Parker as the Mayor of Teaneck.[4] She was sworn into the office at the same meeting. Parker became not only the first African-American female mayor of Teaneck, but also the first black woman to serve as Mayor of any municipality in Bergen County, New Jersey.[2] Her predecessor, Mohammed Hameeduddin, remained in the government as a councilman.[4]

Death

Parker died in office after a respiratory illness at Holy Name Hospital in Teaneck, New Jersey, on April 24, 2016, at the age of 44.[1][5] She had recently suffered from cancer.[5] Her current term as mayor would have expired on July 1, 2016. Teaneack Deputy Mayor Elie Y. Katz became acting mayor upon her death.[5] She was survived by her husband of 17 years, Anthony; their daughter, Alyssa; and her mother, Dolores Phillips.[2]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Ma, Myles (2016-04-24). "Lizette Parker, groundbreaking mayor of Teaneck, dies at 44". NJ.com. Retrieved 2016-04-25.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Green, Jeff (2014-07-01). "Death of Teaneck Mayor Lizette Parker sends shock waves through Teaneck". Bergen Record (NorthJersey.com). Retrieved 2016-04-25.
  3. ↑ Lizette Parker-Obituary
  4. 1 2 3 Morrison, Aaron (2014-07-01). "Teaneck selects its first female African American mayor, faces continuing fiscal troubles". Bergen Record. Retrieved 2016-04-25.
  5. 1 2 3 Ivers, Dan (2016-04-24). "Teaneck mayor died after respiratory issues, official says". NJ.com. Retrieved 2016-04-25.
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