N.J. Assemblyman Alex DeCroce collapses, dies in Statehouse after long legislative session
Bill Spadea for Assembly | Posted on Tuesday, January 10, 2012 at 03:07AM "Alex DeCroce was a great leader, family man and friend. His passing is a tremendous loss for his family, friends and our state. He'll be sorely missed as the Republican leader in the Assembly and as a leader in the real estate industry in Morris County. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family." - Bill Spadea
Via NJ.com
TRENTON — Longtime Assemblyman Alex DeCroce, the leading Republican of the state’s lower house who represented Morris County for 23 years, collapsed and died in a bathroom inside the Statehouse late Monday night, just moments after the 214th Legislature held its final voting session, according to
legislators.
DeCroce, 75, of Parsippany, began serving the 26th Legislative District in the Assembly in 1989 and was the Republican minority leader since 2003, according to his Statehouse biography. He served as deputy speaker of the Assembly from 1994 to 2001.
State Police Lt. Stephen Jones said a legislator died shortly before 11:30 p.m. in a first-floor restroom of the Statehouse. He said a physician on hand attended to the legislator but he was found to be dead.
Gov. Chris Christie — wearing a suit jacket over a Notre Dame T-shirt, no socks and loafers — showed up at the Statehouse at midnight with four staffers. He hugged Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver outside party offices and then held a meeting with her and Senate President Stephen Sweeney.
Word of DeCroce's death began circulating among lawmakers through calls and text messages about 11:30 p.m., almost immediately after the Senate wrapped up its marathon lame-duck session.
Assemblyman Jon Bramnick (R-Union), one of DeCroce’s closest friends, was seen in a Statehouse hallway crying.
Christie issued a statement early this morning expressing his sadness over the loss of his close friend and political mentor.
"Tonight I lost a dear friend, colleague and mentor — Assembly Republican Leader Alex De Croce," the Governor said. "I have known Alex for nearly twenty years. 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. He was an enormously accomplished legislator and a tremendous servant to the people of New Jersey. Mary Pat and I offer our heartfelt condolences to his wife, Department of Community Affairs Deputy Commissioner Betty Lou De Croce, and to Alex's entire family. This is an enormous loss for our state and for me personally."
DeCroce attended Seton Hall University and worked as a realtor for ERA Gallo & DeCroce, his legislative biography said.
Among the committees he was recently serving on were the Bipartisan Leadership Committee, where he served as the co-chairman, and the Legislative Services Commission.
• Born: June 10, 1936
• Hometown: Parsippany
• Education: Seton Hall University
• Occupation: Realtor, ERA Gallo & DeCroce
• Political career: State Assembly 1989-2012, representing the 26th District in Morris County; Assembly Republican Leader, 2003-2012; Deputy Speaker of Assembly, 1994-2001; Republican Conference Leader, 2002-2003
Source: New Jersey Legislature
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