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Instead, Christie eulogizes longest serving legislator

BY TOM HESTER SR.

NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM

The unexpected death of longtime Assembly Republican leader Alex DeCroce at the Statehouse late Monday night has led Gov. Chris Christie to cancel the State of the State address he was prepared to deliver at 3 p.m., Tuesday.

Instead, the governor eulogize DeCroce before a joint session of the Legislature at 1 p.m.

DeCroce, 75, of Parsippany-Troy Hills, was the longest serving current assemblyman among the 80 members of the lower house  and the leading Republican of the state's lower house. He represented Morris County for 23 years and died just moments after the 214th Legislature held its final voting session.

The Assemblyman collapsed and died near the Assembly Chamber after spending a long day taking part in the last voting session of the two-year Assembly term.

DeCroce was seen in a Statehouse hallway at 11 p.m. and people who saw him said he appeared fine.

State Police Lt. Stephen Jones said DeCroce died shortly before 11:30 p.m. in a first-floor restroom. Jones said a physician attended to the legislator but that he was found to be dead. Assemblyman Herb Conaway (D-Burlington), the Legislature’s only physician, was the doctor who attempted to save DeCroce.

DeCroce was due to be sworn in Tuesday to his 12 term and his fifth term as Republican minority leader.

Gov. Chris Christie entered the chamber this afternoon to prolonged applause, pausing to speak a few words with Betty Lou DeCroce, the Assemblyman’s children, P.J., Christopher, Jessica and Aaaron and his grandchildren, Connor, Kayla and Noah.

A bouquet of purple and pink roses was placed on DeCroce’s desk.

Christie opened his nine minutes of remarks by saying he will make his State of the State address next week.

“For today, it is enough to say the state of the state is getting better,” the governor said. “But today our hearts are filled with sadness.”

Christie noted that DeCroce helped him get his start in politics when the governor became a Morris County freeholder in 1994.

“I lost a dear friend, colleague, and mentor – Assembly Republican Leader Alex De Croce,” Christie said. “I have known Alex for nearly 20 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 most 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.”

"I had no more loyal friend in Trenton than Alex DeCroce," said Christie. He added, "God has a way of taking the best away before we are ready to let them go."

The governor also read from the address DeCroce was to make at the Assembly reorganization meeting. "We will solve more problems by working together than apart," Christie quoted. "We owe our constituents nothing less."

The passing of DeCroce cast a pall over the Statehouse.

At brief reorganization ceremonies, Assembly and Senate members paused for moments of silence for the lawmaker. In the Senate, the swearing-in of members and the election of officers for the 215th Legislative Session was held without speeches or formal ceremonies.