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NJ GOP Leader Dies In Statehouse Bathroom After Marathon Legislative Session
By
Jen Chung
Published Jan 10, 2012
Modified Jan 10, 2012
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By
Jen Chung
Published Jan 10, 2012
Modified Jan 10, 2012
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NJ Assemblyman Alex DeCroce died at the NJ Statehouse last night, after participating in the Legislature's final voting session. DeCroce, who represented Morris County and was the Republican minority leader since 2003, "collapsed and died in a bathroom at 11 p.m." according to the Star-Ledger.
It's believed that DeCroce, 75, died before 11:30 p.m.; a lawmaker said his son saw DeCroce in the hallway before 11 p.m. and that DeCroce seemed fine. The Star-Ledger reports that a state police officer "said a physician on hand attended to the legislator but that he was found to be dead. Lawmakers said Assemblyman Herb Conaway (D-Burlington), the Legislature’s only doctor, was the one who attended to DeCroce."
Governor Chris Christie was scheduled to give NJ's State of the State address, but that has been postponed. The Star-Ledger said the governor was "emotional" when he arrived at the Statehouse around midnight, wearing a jacket over a t-shirt and hugging Democratic lawmakers. Christie Tweeted, "I have known Alex for nearly twenty years. He helped to give me my start in elective politics in Morris County in 1993." In a statement, Christie added, "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... This is an enormous loss for our state and for me personally."
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Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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