We are deeply saddened to announce that Tim K. Madden passed away this past weekend at 86.  
 
Timothy “Tim” K. Madden, Esq., founding Executive Director of Northeast New Jersey Legal Services (NNJLS), passed away over the weekend. A pioneering figure in New Jersey’s legal services movement, Mr. Madden dedicated nearly four decades to expanding access to justice for under-resourced communities across northern New Jersey. 

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Mr. Madden was the founder of Hudson County Legal Services in 1967 and served as its first and only Executive Director until the organization’s merger into NNJLS in 2003. He continued as Executive Director of NNJLS until his retirement in 2007. His leadership helped shape the modern legal services landscape in Bergen, Hudson, and Passaic Counties. It kept critical legal support accessible during periods of significant social, economic, and institutional change. 

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Reflecting on his early years in legal services, Mr. Madden once said, “In the early days of Legal Services, the challenges were many. I had to build trust with people who didn’t know me. It wasn’t easy, but it was worth it.” 

Born in Jersey City to Irish immigrant parents, Mr. Madden was raised in a working-class family grounded in faith, discipline, and perseverance. After attending Catholic school, he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and was stationed in Okinawa and later in Virginia. During his service, he began taking college courses through the University of Maryland, setting up the foundation for his academic and professional future. Upon returning home, he enrolled at St. John’s University School of Law, becoming the first in his family to graduate from college and pursue a legal career. 

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Mr. Madden’s introduction to legal services came through a part-time position with a community action program during law school, an experience that he said defined his life’s work. From those early beginnings, he built Hudson County Legal Services into a trusted and resilient institution. 

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Under his leadership, the organization expanded both in scope and impact. Mr. Madden guided the program through major developments in the legal services field, including staff unionization efforts, evolving client needs, and shifting policy landscapes. Known for his fairness and pragmatism, he served as a key negotiator during union discussions, advocating for improved working conditions while maintaining the organization’s mission and stability. 

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In the early 2000s, Mr. Madden played a central role in the consolidation of regional legal services programs, helping to form Northeast New Jersey Legal Services. His steady leadership ensured continuity of services and preservation of mission during a complex period of organizational transition. 

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Leah Ashe, Esq., current Executive Director of NNJLS, reflected, “Without Tim, there would be no NNJLS. He was one of the first legal services directors in New Jersey who saw programs through both challenges and growth, always ensuring they remained standing and responsive to the communities they served. Even after his retirement, Tim remained deeply connected to the organization, regularly checking in and offering guidance.” 

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Jack Wind Esq., President of the NNJLS Board of Directors, credited Madden with drawing him into the organization’s mission. Their partnership began when Madden enlisted Wind’s legal expertise to support a community organization seeking zoning approval for a soup kitchen and homeless shelter in Union City. That successful collaboration led to decades of service, including Wind’s tenure as Board President at Madden’s request. Together, they helped guide NNJLS through major transitions, including regional mergers, economic challenges, and continued service expansion. 

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Colleagues remember Mr. Madden as both a visionary leader and a deeply personal mentor. Lawrence Sindoni, Managing Attorney of the Housing Unit, noted, “Tim was part of that great first generation of Legal Services leadership. I’m forever grateful to Tim for giving me my start.”  

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Mr. Madden’s legacy lives on not only in the institution he built, but in the generations of attorneys, advocates, and clients whose lives were shaped by his work. His career stands as a testament to leadership rooted in community, resilience, and an unwavering commitment to justice. 

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NNJLS expresses its deepest gratitude for his vision, leadership, and lifelong dedication to the mission of legal services and the communities we serve. We are grateful for his enduring impact and legacy.  

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Funeral services for Mr. Madden and his wife, who passed away just weeks prior, will be held on May 16. Additional details will be shared by the family. 
 
As part of the New Jersey Legal Services at 50 Years – Our Journey video published by Legal Services of New Jersey, Tim Madden reflected on the early years of building legal services in the state and the challenges of establishing trust, structure, and stability in a new and evolving field.