Eileen Gaughan, 42, daughter of former Jersey City Councilman Bill Gaughan, was killed after being struck by a car in Wall Township the night of Tuesday, Aug. 18. She was apparently struck when trying to cross Route 34 near Allenwood Road, officials said.
Eileen was a former assistant director of the Hudson County Office of Cultural Affairs, and former chairperson of the Jersey City Municipal Utilities Authority. Her father serves as chief of staff for County Executive Tom DeGise.
“We were shocked,” DeGise said. “We worked closely. She was very talented and loyal to me and to the county. She loved what she was doing.”
During her stint with the county Department of Cultural Affairs, she ran the county music series that took place in the Brennan Court House.
“We are one big family here, and we’ve lost one of our own.” – Tom DeGise
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DeGise said Eileen was like a member of his family.
“We are one big family here, and we’ve lost one of our own,” he said. “Billy and I used to talk a lot about the greatness and problems of having two daughters. She was Billy’s little girl. I can’t imagine the pain that he and his family must be going through. But we’re going to make sure that we help the Gaughan family through this.”
During the naming of the 100 Steps in Jersey City last month, Gaughan credited his family with supporting his efforts over the years. He was extremely close to Eileen, others said.
“Eileen was a special person and a friend,” said Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop. “While she was a fierce protector of her father and would be quick to tell you exactly how she felt, she also had an unbelievable sense of humor, she had great compassion for those in need, and she loved Jersey City. This is a tragic situation and the entire city’s thoughts and prayers go out to the Gaughan family.”
“ ‘Beanie,’ as she was known to all, was an intelligent, articulate, hard-working and fun-loving person who was adored by all,” said Freeholder Chairman Junior Maldonado. “Her passing is a tremendous blow to the Jersey City community and will be sorely missed in the years to come.”
A local actor
Eileen was a well-established local artist, who performed at a number of local venues in Jersey City, Hoboken, and beyond. She did performances at St. Michael’s Church and Barrow Mansion as part of a community theater program.
“She was the type of actress that ate up the oxygen in the room,” DeGise recalled. “She was ever-present. Whenever she performed, we would pick a night and a bunch of us would go out to a local restaurant like Skinner’s Loft or the Ale House, and then go to see her at the show. We always thought of her as the star of the show.”
Ironically, one of Gaughan’s last roles in Jersey City in 2012 was a character named Vi in a play called “The Memory of Water.” Gaughan played the mother in this comedy about life and death, as her daughters try to come to terms with her death. Each has wildly different memories of their childhood, as Vi continues to frustrate them from the grave.
“Mothers always provide their daughters with the notion of what it means to be a woman, and Vi is the gift that keeps on giving, as seen in her daughter’s ongoing battles in their own romantic relationships,” one reviewer wrote at the time. “This touching and darkly hilarious story plays as a comedy for much of its length, but many of its most impressive moments take place when the laughter dies away without warning and the characters are overwhelmed by remembered anger and very present pain. I’m just sayin’…people die…you can’t avoid it.’”
Al Sullivan may be reached at asullivan@hudsonreporter.com.