SOUTH JERSEY (KYW Newsradio) — New Jersey is mourning the death of its trailblazing lieutenant governor, Sheila Oliver.
Oliver was serving as acting governor while Gov. Phil Murphy was out of the country vacationing in Italy, but it was announced Monday that she was admitted to Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston with an undisclosed medical condition. The governor's office declined to elaborate.
Then on Tuesday came announcements from Murphy and Oliver's family of the lieutenant governor's death at the age of 71.
“Tammy and I, and our children, are incredibly saddened and distraught to learn of the passing of our dear friend, colleague, and partner in government, Lieutenant Governor Sheila Oliver," Murphy wrote in a statement released Tuesday.
As lieutenant governor for the last five years, Oliver served as Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy's top deputy, stepping in for him while he was out of state and also overseeing the Department of Community Affairs, which coordinates state aid to towns and cities and supervises code enforcement.
As acting governor, she signed a handful of bills, including a 2021 measure that established a pilot program to overhaul the state's juvenile justice system in four cities and which aimed to reintegrate young people into their communities.
Born and raised in Newark, she earned a sociology degree from Pennsylvania's Lincoln University. She served on the Essex County board of chosen freeholders from 1996 to 1999. She went on to represent Essex County in the State Assembly from 2004 until 2018.
In 2010, Oliver became the first black woman to serve as Assembly speaker, before losing the position to Assemblyman Vincent Prieto in 2013. Murphy tapped her to be his running mate in 2017, the first time he ran for governor.
The governor on Tuesday called Oliver "a trailblazer in every sense of the word," writing, "She had already made history as the first Black woman to serve as Speaker of the General Assembly, and just the second Black woman in the nation’s history to lead a house of a state legislature."
Murphy, in his statement, said Oliver "brought a unique and valuable perspective to our public policy discourse, and served as an inspiration to millions of women and girls everywhere."
The Oliver family released a statement saying that she leaves behind a legacy of dedication, service and inspiration. No cause of death was given.
Arrangements for a memorial service will be announced in due time, the family said. Until then, Camden Mayor Victor Carstarphen said flags at all municipal buildings will fly at half-staff.
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A 'rocking' lieutenant governor
Oliver was a compelling public speaker and frequent attendee at Murphy's bill signings and other events, where he typically introduced her as his "rocking" lieutenant governor.
In 2021 while unveiling tighter gun legislation alongside Murphy, Oliver's voice cracked as she lamented the gun violence that disproportionately affected cities in the state. Speaking in her native Newark, Oliver lamented what she suggested was runaway gun violence.
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"We are tired of funerals and memorials," Oliver said. "Growing up in Newark, I tell young people I could go to any section of this city by myself or with my friends. Our young people cannot do that today."
She was twice elected lieutenant governor alongside Murphy beginning in 2017 and again in 2021. Oliver was just the second person to hold the post of lieutenant governor, a newer state government position that began under previous Gov. Chris Christie.
It was unclear who would immediately succeed her. The state constitution calls for the state Senate president, Democratic Nicolas Scutari, to serve as acting governor if the governor and lieutenant governor are out of state or incapacitated. The governor must appoint a lieutenant governor within 45 days to fill the unexpired term, according to the constitution.
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The Associated Press contributed to this report.