Michael Jay Mehr

Born on January 8, 1935 to Bertha and Dr. Henry Mehr, Michael J. Mehr was a lifelong resident of Union Township, New Jersey. He attended Connecticut Farms Elementary and graduated from The Pingry School and Cornell University. Mehr served his country in the Marines Corps, training at Camp Lejeune, before completing a law degree at the University of Virginia. During a distinguished legal career that spanned five decades, Mehr established himself as a leading regulatory and corporate lawyer in the field of public utilities. He worked for the Federal Trade Commission under the Kennedy Administration, served as a New Jersey State Deputy Attorney General, and Chief Counsel to the Board of Public Utility Commissioners. Instrumental in forming New Jersey’s Office of Administrative Law, Mehr was the agency’s first Deputy Director and presided as Judge over numerous landmark cases. After over twenty years of public service to the State of New Jersey, Mehr joined Waters, McPherson, McNeill in Secaucus, New Jersey as Senior Partner. He concluded his career as a New Jersey State Administrative Law Judge, returning to the agency he helped form decades earlier. Throughout his life, Mehr used his legal expertise and insight to assist friends, family, and community members whenever he was needed. In 2002, he was honored with the New Jersey Utility Association’s Distinguished Service Award for significant and positive contributions to the New Jersey utility industry and community.

“Michael Mehr has been in the forefront of groundbreaking decisions in the state,” said Walter Braswell, who presented the award. “Much of how we practice utility law today has his signature on it.”

Michael is survived by his beloved wife of 54 years, Kathleen; children, Jay, Jennifer, and Jessica Mehr; and daughter-in-law, Jennifer Young Mehr. He was an adoring grandfather to Daniel, Kevin, Jack, and Henry Mehr. Known for his larger-than-life personality, Michael will be remembered as a man of great brilliance, humor, integrity, conviction, and for his unwavering loyalty to those he loved.

A visitation for Michael will be held Friday, November 17, 2023 from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM at McCracken Funeral Home, 1500 Morris Ave, Union, NJ 07083. A funeral service will occur Saturday, November 18, 2023 at 10:00 AM, 1500 Morris Ave, Union, NJ 07083. A graveside service will occur Saturday, November 18, 2023 at Hollywood Memorial Park Cemetery, 1500 Stuyvesant Avenue, Union, NJ 07083.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Heart Association and Tunnels to Tower Foundation.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.McCrackenFuneralHome.com for the Mehr family.