NJ Assembly's GOP Leader Dies At Statehouse

Published January 10, 2012 8:27AM (EST)

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — The New Jersey Assembly's top Republican leader has died at the Statehouse on the final day of the legislative session.

Seventy-five-year-old Alex DeCroce collapsed in a men's room around 11 p.m. Monday night.

Gov. Chris Christie issued a statement confirming DeCroce's death about 2 ½ hours later.

The Legislature is scaling back plans for Tuesday's reorganization and Christie is postponing his state-of-the-state speech. Instead, Christie is expected to talk about DeCroce, who he says gave him his start in elective politics in 1993.

DeCroce, of Parsippany-Troy Hills, served in the Assembly since 1989 and became the GOP's leader there in 2003. His district includes parts of Morris and Passaic counties.


By Salon Staff

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