An accomplished politician who served in public office for more than 50 years and was an advocate for mental-health awareness, former acting Gov. Richard J. Codey passed away on Jan. 11 at his home in Roseland after a brief illness. He was 79.
Codey’s legislative career began when he was elected to the state assembly as a Democrat in 1973, at the age of 27. In 1981, he was elected to the state senate, where he served until 2011, including eight years as president.
Although he never ran for governor, Codey served as the acting head of state on three occasions. New Jersey law at the time dictated that in the event of a governor vacancy, the senate president assumes the position until the next general election.
Codey’s first time as acting governor came in 2002, when former Gov. Christine Todd Whitman stepped down to become the administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency under President George W. Bush. He presided for the second time for 14 months in 2004, when then-Gov. James McGreevey resigned after confessing to an extramarital homosexual affair and coming out as gay.
Codey’s third go-round as acting governor was in April of 2007, when he served for almost a month after former Gov. Jon Corzine was seriously injured in a car accident.
“Whether as governor or as the longest-serving lawmaker in New Jersey, Dick built a healthier future for all of us,” Gov. Phil Murphy noted in a statement after Codey’s death. “From championing mental-health care and stem cell research to advancing smoke-free indoor spaces in New Jersey, Dick protected every one of our communities and sought to cultivate the potential of every one of our neighbors.”
Codey is survived by his wife, Mary Jo, and two sons, Kevin and Chris. The couple launched a campaign to raise awareness of post-partum depression, which Mary Jo suffered from after the birth of Kevin. His other accomplishments include increased funding for mental-health awareness, banning smoking from indoor places and addressing steroid abuse in high school and college sports.
Codey was born and raised in the City of Orange, where his family owned a funeral home. Later in life, he lived in West Orange and Roseland. Codey graduated from Fairleigh Dickinson University with a bachelor’s degree in education and was a licensed funeral director as well as an insurance broker.
“Gov. Richard J. Codey passed away peacefully this morning (Jan. 11) at home, surrounded by family, after a brief illness,” his family announced on Facebook. “Our family has lost a beloved husband, father and grandfather – and New Jersey lost a remarkable public servant who touched the lives of all who knew him.
“He lived his life with humility, compassion and a deep sense of responsibility to others,” the post added. “He spoke the truth when others wouldn’t and fought tirelessly for the people of New Jersey during his record-setting 50 years in the legislature.
“He made friends as easily with presidents as he did with strangers at all-night diners.”
Codey returned to the senate after leaving the governor’s office and wrote a memoir called “Me, Governor? My Life in the Rough-and-Tumble World of New Jersey Politics,” with reporter Stephen Seplow
Governor-elect Mikie Sherrill, who was inaugurated on Jan. 20, released the following statement about Codey.
“He was a great public servant,” she said. “As governor, in the assembly, and in the state senate, he used his power to expand mental-health resources, implement stronger gun safety laws to protect communities and bolster substance abuse treatment and prevention programs.
“He truly cared about the people he served,” Sherrill added. “I am lucky to call Gov. Codey a mentor and a friend. He was there from the beginning when I decided to run for Congress, and again when I decided to run for governor, and I will always carry with me his deep belief that the future of our state is worth fighting for.”
