East Cobb Republican political activist Pam Reardon dies Archives

Pam Reardon, an East Cobb resident who was a candidate for the Cobb Board of Commissioners in 2024 and was involved in Cobb and Georgia Republican politics, has died. East Cobb Republican political activist Pam Reardon dies

Her death was announced over the weekend by Salleigh Grubbs, the former head of the Cobb GOP, and Josh McKoon, the chairman of the Georgia Republican Party.

Reardon served both bodies in a variety of positions. A native of Canada and a retired real estate agent, Reardon had been suffering from cancer.

“Pamela Reardon was a shining star whose legacy will continue to inspire,” Grubbs said on her Facebook page Saturday.

“As her friend, I was blessed to witness her unwavering dedication to her values and her unrelenting passion for serving others.”

McKoon wrote Sunday that Reardon’s “unwavering commitment to our values and her tireless efforts to serve those around her have left an indelible mark on all who had the privilege of knowing her.”

For many years Reardon volunteered in party activities and for candidates, and was involved in efforts to challenge voter eligibility following a Georgia elections law in 2021.

She invited a progressive journalist into her East Cobb home in the summer of 2021, only to throw him out during an on-camera interview.

Reardon was a frequent speaker at commissioners’ public comment sessions, then decided to take the political plunge herself in 2024.

She qualified as a candidate for Cobb Commission District 2 during a dispute over electoral maps. But court rulings upholding legislative-drawn maps, meant that she was a resident instead of District 3, and a special election was called that resulted in Democrat Erick Allen being elected to that seat.

Reardon was from Calgary, Alberta, and came to the Atlanta area in the late 1980s. She became an American citizen in 1996, and she and her husband Tom had six children and eight grandchildren.

In addition to her political activities, Reardon also was an officer with the women’s council at the Catholic Church of St. Ann, and served on the board of directors at the Family Life Restoration Center in Mableton.

Cobb Elections Board member Debbie Fisher, a Republican from East Cobb, provided this remembrance to East Cobb News:

“When I first joined the Republican Party, I had no idea what I was getting into. I was working full time, traveling about half the time, and politics was nowhere near the top of my to-do list. Somehow, I got railroaded into becoming a precinct officer — and that’s when Pam Reardon entered my life.

“I didn’t know Pam very well then, but one day I got a call from her. In that unmistakable, no-nonsense voice, she told me that if I wanted to be an officer, I needed to poll watch. I admitted I had no idea what poll watching involved and said I didn’t really have the time. Pam didn’t miss a beat — she simply told me to find the time and meet her. It was clear right away that saying “no” wasn’t an option.

“Out of respect for her position — or maybe fear of the unknown — I met with her, hoping for a little coaching. Instead, she handed me the law and the rules, told me to memorize them, and then assigned me to six precincts with detailed instructions on when to show up. Something told me you just didn’t say no to Pam. And that’s how my journey into elections began — all because of Pam Reardon.

“Over time, Pam and I became close friends. We had a lot in common, but we were both strong-willed, so our friendship came with plenty of lively (and sometimes heated) debates — which we both secretly loved. The longer I knew her, the more my respect grew. She was a force to be reckoned with — determined, tireless, and absolutely unshakable in her convictions. But beneath that fierce spirit was a kind and generous soul who gave endlessly of herself to help others.

“Pam didn’t take no for an answer. she was always focused on one thing: the win. Half the people in the Georgia legislature might not have been elected if it weren’t for Pam and her husband, Tom, who together knocked on more doors than anyone. Even Marjorie Taylor Greene was among those who benefited from Pam’s hard work during her first run for Congress.

“The only battle I ever saw Pam lose was the one with cancer. She fought it with every ounce of strength she had, but in the end, God had a different plan for her. Heaven gained a new pair of wings, and we lost a dear friend here on earth.

“We are all better for having known and loved our feisty, one-of-a-kind friend, Pam Reardon. She will be deeply missed — but never forgotten.”

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