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Brian Branch Price / AP, file
New Jersey Assemblyman Alex DeCroce became the GOP's leader in the Assembly in 2003.
TRENTON, N.J. -- The Republican leader of the New Jersey Assembly collapsed and died at the Statehouse late Monday, the final day of the legislative session.
Assemblyman Alex DeCroce, 75, collapsed in a men's room around 11 p.m. and was pronounced dead at the scene.
Assemblyman Herb Conaway, the Legislature's only physician, attended to DeCroce at the scene. Gov. Chris Christie, a fellow Republican and personal friend of DeCroce for 20 years, confirmed the death 2 ½ hours later.
"Tonight I lost a dear friend, colleague and mentor," Christie said in a statement. "He helped to give me my start in elective politics in Morris County in 1993. He was one of the most kind, considerate and trustworthy people I have ever had the pleasure to know. This is an enormous loss for our state and for me personally."
The lawmaker's sudden death threw into turmoil the Legislature's reorganization plans for Tuesday and caused Christie to delay his annual state-of-the-state address. The Assembly and Senate greatly scaled back swearing-in ceremonies for new members. Christie planned to deliver remarks about DeCroce on the floor of the Assembly in lieu of his scheduled address.
DeCroce's death shocked lawmakers and legislative staff who had been working with him all evening as the Legislature wrapped up its session with a flurry of last-minute bills. One of his final acts as the GOP leader was to accuse Democrats of casting votes for an absent member.
An obviously emotional Christie returned to the capital around midnight, wearing a sport jacket over a T-shirt and loafers but no socks.
The governor was seen breaking down while embracing Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver and other legislative leaders.
Michael Drewniak, a spokesman for Christie, told the Star-Ledger that DeCroce "was the state's finest elder statesman."
'Terrible and shocking loss'
Oliver and incoming Majority Leader Lou Greenwald, both Democrats, issued a joint statement.
"The Assembly and the State of New Jersey has been struck by a terrible and shocking loss," they said. "Alex DeCroce was a friend, colleague and leader. He was a dedicated public servant. He was a true New Jerseyan. He was always someone ready with a handshake and a laugh, no matter the circumstance, and his devotion to the people of New Jersey was unwavering. The Assembly has lost one of its great institutions."
DeCroce's body, covered and placed on a stretcher, was removed from the ground floor of the Statehouse about 12:40 a.m.
The lawmaker, from Parsippany-Troy Hills, served in the Assembly since 1989 and became the GOP's leader there in 2003.
His district includes parts of Morris and Passaic counties.
He was also president of a Parsippany real estate company.
His wife, Betty Lou DeCroce, is a deputy commissioner with the Department of Community Affairs.
The Associated Press and msnbc.com staff contributed to this report.
Leave a Comment:
I'm sure he was a fine, honest politician, just like all the other fine, honest New Jersey politicians.
Too bad his final act was partisan politics. Huntsman wants to change that trend and I'm pretty sure he will be the next president.
Why retire at 65 when you can milk the taxpayers up until you die.
I mean, it's not like he didn't have Universal Healthcare from the government or worked a minimum wage job. This guy was taking some young politician job away.
Term limits or forced retirement. Vote in November (recall if you have to)
Aren't those words etched on Uncle Teddy K's tombstone?
Steve-2570999 - Show some respect. I suppose it's all well and good to hide behind your computer screen and say things you'd never say at this man's funeral.
I'm far from a GOP supporter, but a man died here. Let him rest in peace.
Here is a guy who, at 75, was still making desicions for a modern economy and "wired" internet society. He is a prime example of why progress is so slow in this country.
I know it's not his fault. The reason is that older people always vote and that out of the 99%ers you see on TV only 30% will vote this election.
But he should at least have had the common courtesy to step aside when at 65 when he could retire and let someone else take over.
I am Republican because you have to be one or the other to make your vote count in our skewed system. I would not and never have said such unworthy comments about a Democrat who died and nobody else should either. There is life beyond and outside politics and the negative comments here show the emptiness of the person making them. I agree with phalaeo. What a hole our country has dug with its negativity, no wonder the economy and personal life is less palatable than it used to be. We have to turn this attitude around and it takes all of us to make it happen. Shame of those who even bother to comment. Not all politicians are evil and bad just because they are politicians. If that were true we would have anarchy not representative government and cease to be the greatest democracy on the face of the earth. And we are still all of that in spite of efforts to change that for selfish motives of some of our vocal but negative citizens. Thank God you even live here and were not born someplace else, realize the blessing and live it. Rest in peace, Assemblyman Alex DeCroce, and thank you for your years of service where others only complain and accomplish nothing with their lives. Condolences to your family and friends and I hope someone else will be chosen that has the same desire to serve in the public arena for the betterment of our country.
Just because he was 75 doesn't mean that he didn't understand the Internet.
Wow! The guy died while in public service. Enough with the nastiness all ready. He may have been a Republican but gee whiz he was an American who loved his country.
Rest in Peace Alex DeCroce.
Do you really think he can read what is being written about him? If he isn't at peace now he never will be.
I'm not sure that the forefathers meant for people to be career politicians. But that is one way for a career politician to enact term limits - his/her term expires along with the politician.
Is it true Christie sat on him??
Lovely. A man dies and all people can do is make stupid nasty jokes and crude comments. I'm sorry for his family's loss.
Only Huntsmen can bring in enough money to feed the GOPER party machine.
they always speak so well of the dead maybe god struck him down before he could make a bad vote that if you believe in god ?
Or maybe it was because he was 75.
Tommy, I do believe in God and do not think God struck him down. We all will die. We all will also perish if we do not repent of sin and have faith in Jesus Christ. Some do not like that, but the same kind of people put Jesus on the cross. He did not stay dead but made a way for all of us to be changed in our hearts and minds and have eternal life. My belief, not yours maybe, but guess what, I am not out to put you down or kill you.
I want you all to live the best life possible, way beyond the golden rule but encompassing that idea. It is a rough life, but not so rough if you have honest hope in a better life to come. My current life has been way better since I accepted Jesus Christ for above 50 years now. God has never disappointed me although this world has thrown the book at me. John 10:10
Or maybe god struck him down because of a bad vote.
Thinker, NAH, God LOVES the GOP they told me so.
Mitt;
That you're superstitious is your personal problem. However, if you're going to apply the empty threats of your superstition to others then the empty threats of other, and older, superstitions apply to you. You can't have it both ways.
Quoting a verse from your book of drooling idiocy[tm] is terminally meaningless. One might as well quote the Red Queen about sometimes believing in six impossible things before breakfast. Both are of the same validity.
If you want a tome which is far closer to reality and does promote ethics while the protagonist leads by example-study a Superman, Supergirl, Wonder Woman, or an equivalent comic book.
Your first paragraph is nothing but drooling idiocy which is what your precious stone and bronze age book written by ignorant primitives and massively edited and re-edited, and re-edited and re-written myriad times. It isn't even original. The stuff's been stolen from older and then current superstitions. Just as Christianity has stolen holidays, saints, and demonized what were life-affirming female deities.
If you think old men in their 70's are serving their state or country, your as much of a fool as they are...
Do you guys really hate your grandparents? What happened to honoring your elders?
I'm so glad the fashion police were there to tell us that Christie wasn't wearing socks. Because, you know, that's just so pertinent to the story.
I guess we were supposed to have the impression that he rushed out of the house in the middle of the night to be on the scene. Not sure why it's necessary to point it out, considering it was 11 pm, but whatever.
Condolences to the family and friends.
I recall returning home from dates in high school wearing only one sock. But both socks missing? Hmmmm? We need more sock information to be able to determine the REAL meaning behind this story.
All we can assume is that the gov. had his pants on, I noticed that they mentioned everything else but that.
Flbikerchick, the fashion police are everywhere, they were mad at Obama because there were pics taken of him without a tie. Funny world we live in, isn't it? If someone was getting his third nobel prize, someone would be there to point out that his shoes didn't match his hankie.
The bathroom is one of the least places to die in, drag me out into the hallway.
....and prop you up beside the juke box?
Sorry, you get no choice here, we all die and it really isn't our choice just like being born, both are a gift from God. I am ready to live or die and happy to just be here, Minnie Pearl, ha.
The jokes about death here show the emptiness of people's hearts for others, get a life.
Hate to sound this way but one less Republican is one less Republican.
And your hatred is very apparent. You may have not agreed with his politics but why speak ill of the deceased.
sorry bro but politicans bring this on themselves! i don't think he was worried about
YOU or me while he was getting rich of the taxpayer.
I'm a hardcore Liberal, and your comments shock me. Really stupid and insensitive of you.
Agreed. Before he was a politician, or a Republican, he was a human being.
I'm a former New Jerseyite, consider myself a progressive and therefore, not a Republican. Having said that, I was appalled by several of the insensitive comments. He was a husband, a father and he served his state. I think he should be accorded all the civility fitting for a servant of New Jersey. My thoughts and prayers go to his family and his friends!!!
Jersey!? What exit?
I grew up in a time when the death of any leader was cause for expressions of condolence and sympathy for their family. The cold, heartless statements posted here go a long way in explaining what has happened to our once-great country. God help us all.
bill,
Agreed. DeCroce deserves respect for a life of public service.
yes IC-638041... and for being vitally active at 75...what a way to go...last day on the job...no hospital bed with intravenous bottles...that's the way I wish to go...quickly with no long painful exit...it's the people he left behind that now must deal with their grief...my condolences to the family for their loss...
100% agree Bill!!!!!!!!!! It absolutely sickens me how horrible all these posts are...somebody died, someone both sides of the aisle seemed to respect...it's ridiculous how cruel some people can be...
Absolutely. Some of these comments truly sicken me. What has happened to us?
Well, people die everyday...a lot of them can't get the medical care they need... so they die sooner...I don't see any politician on any side of any aisle expressing their condolences about that. You know, what goes around...
Remember, rock n roller, cliches like "what goes around..." apply to everyone, including the people who use them.
You shouldn't complain when a body makes rude, insensitive, and vacuous remarks. It saves you the bother of treating him like a decent human, and the embarrassment and disappointment of finding out later that he's not. Better to get him identified right off.
Hummmmmmmmm .... seems like the right place for a politician to pass over ....
In a very subtle way your post is right on. I'm not a resident of NJ and don't know the individual. For better or worse there are great men with tons of integrity who serve without scandal in public office all there lives. Regardless of a person's political association there family deserves respect for their loss.
bill - I can only say - Amen!
Now if he had gotten caught tryin' to smoke pole in an airport bathroom....then all rules of decorum would have been invalid...just sayin.
Now that's what I call "term" inal limits.
At least he died doing what he loved - he was in the can right?
Sorry to hear this....may his family be consoled and find comfort at this time......but
We need term limits in all levels of government. 2011 - 1989, what 22 years in politics........how does that serve the people of NJ?
Democratic Republican does not matter, people should not be allowed to make a living off of other peoples taxes unless they provide essential services like police, fire, etc. The rest park themselves in a cushy hob knob position where most times, the citizens are not truly served.
Sorry for feeling this way but we all have been let down for too long. DEBT, DEBT AND MORE DEBT.
Kind of off subject, crisis, but I agree with your point about term limits. Why is it the Tea Party politicians don't include themselves in the "public employees caused our economic woes" theory?
I think this is the time to push for TERM LIMITS! enough of this! i don't care if they
are conservative, republican or democrat [liberals] nobody should spend more than
4 years in office! if a president only gets 4 years then that's enough! and no benefits
like free lifetime healthcare and retirement on the back of the poor tax payer! go to
work like everybody else and pay your own way! they all leave richer then when they
went in anyway why they need us to fork over of our money so they can live it luxury!
Ervin ... you're mis-informed about Presidential term limits. It kind of undercuts your whole argument.
Blessings to his family.
I just have this to say only in politics and journalism are people allowed to work until well past retirement age.
Not true, I know many people working well past normal retirement because they can and wish to do so. They are not in it for the money because they have it made by then or not. they are involved for selfless motives such as changing the government to be more responsive to the voters not the bureaucrats and corporate interests. Check out his record and you might be surprised what he has affected for the good. Don't be always looking for the bad in people, both sides are present in all of us.
In passing, condolences to his family and friends. We all will die can you agree and we want to make the best of this life before we go. Have a nice day and make it a nice day for someone else, golden rule.
The lady who delivered our pizza the other evening had to be over 60. Lots of the baggers at the local grocery stores and people behind the counter at fast food places are obviously past retirement age. Of course, I doubt most of them actually choose to be there...
The only place that is not so unusual is FL.
May he rest in peace. My condolences to his family.
Ervin...how bout this...particularly the Presidency; ONE 6-year term and that's it! As it is now, you get someone in office and it takes them a year to get acclimated, learn how the game's played, know who's who. Then...come the last year (in this present case it's been the last TWO years)...you have the incumbent spending more time and energy in campaign mode for re-election. So what do you get..."maybe" a year+ of quality governing. SO...make term limits purely a public service 6-year tenure. Pay them well, then send them back into the public sector to live under the screwed up laws they propose/pass which we "little people" are forced to adhere to.
So long as you also prohibit them from becoming lobbyists after they leave office, sounds good.
Well...I wonder where he went? Ya know, being a politician and all...I'm just saying.
You people are disgusting.
He was a good man and a dedicated public servant, regardless of whether you agreed with his politics. He was liked by members of both sides of the aisle and had a long, distinguished political career, untarnished by even a hint of scandal or corruption.
As far as milking the system or some such nonsense, New Jersey legislators are part-time and are paid under $50k a year for their services. They're hardly getting rich off of the backs of the taxpayers.
Honestly, this article shouldn't even be open for comment. You pigs are everything that's wrong with this country today.
Hard lefty but I agree with you.
Trolls are trolls left and right. Troll= nasty just for the attention not about substance!!!!!!!!!!!!!
No comment on the deceased. I know zip about him. And I don't care who it is - there shoule be NO lifetime "public service". I think that 8 years in office is quite enough. Once they are entrenched they cointrol the money to keep them entrenched.
He probably died of boredom.
You'd think Chrisitie would take notice as everytime he subjects us to his obesity-symptomatic Apoplectic dementia-raging on Libs with that big fat blabbermouth ...
If you look above you can see what 90% of far left liberals think everyday. Sick twisted thoughts of anyone that doesnt agree with them dyeing makes them happy. They are very sick crowd. They will meet their own Karma and I hope it hits them hard.
I have heard and read the exact same hateful, sick things from Republicans when Giffords was shot or Kennedy died. It happens on both sides and it is wrong either way. People say shocking things because they are anonymous, behind a computer, and they get off causing others to react to what they type. Just ignore it but definitely don't think you and Republicans have some type of higher moral ground on this matter. It is just not fact.
The key word being 'elder'- there should be a a mandatory retirement age at 65 for these people instead of being able to work past their 'freshness dating' sucking off the taxpayers forever and a day. Term limits!
Another good argument for term limits.