Former New Jersey Gov. Richard Codey talks to the crowd during Newark Mayor Ras Baraka’s announcement to seek reelection on the steps of City Hall in Newark on June 22, 2017. (Alexandra Pais | For NJ Advance Media) NJAMAlexandra Pais | For NJ Advance MediaFew people can put in perspective what Richard Codey accomplished as New Jersey’s longest-serving state legislator better than Raymond Lesniak.
Lesniak’s 40-year career in public service was only outdone by Codey, who spent 42 years as a member of the state Senate following an eight-year run in the state Assembly.
“I can’t think of anyone who accomplished more,” Lesniak said. “What can I say? A life well lived on every aspect of his journey through life. I’ll miss his humor. I’ll miss his friendliness. And I’ll miss (his) humanity the most.”
Codey, whose 50 years in New Jersey politics would include the dual role of acting governor and Senate president for 14 months following the resignation of James McGreevey in 2004, died Sunday morning at his Roseland home after a brief illness, his family announced on social media. He was 79.
State Sen. Richard Codey, a former governor, at his office in Caldwell on Jan. 5, 2024.Ed Murray | For NJ Advance Media“Dick had a deep compassionate commitment to issues that were often ignored, particularly mental health,” McGreevey said in a phone interview Sunday afternoon. “He just had this unwavering desire to be present for the people he served, to be caring to their needs. His sense of Irish wit and that little twinkle in his eye and a smirk when he zinged you, that’s what I’ll miss the most about him.”
The Essex County Democrat’s five decades in Trenton spanned the presidencies of Richard Nixon to Joe Biden.
On Sunday, tributes poured in from friends and colleagues, who remembered Codey as a dedicated and humble man whose life’s work was about serving the people.
MORE: Richard Codey, ‘accidental’ governor and longest-serving N.J. lawmaker, dies at 79ALSO: Richard Codey was a passionate advocate for New Jersey sports — and a huge fan, too | Politi
Known for a gregarious demeanor and his devoted Irish Catholic faith, Codey championed laws that increased benefits for people dealing with mental health issues and he sponsored bills that led to a ban on smoking in public places and raised the tobacco purchasing age to 19.
Codey and his wife, Mary Jo, also launched a campaign to raise awareness of postpartum depression, which she suffered from after the birth of their first child. He sponsored a law that requires new mothers in New Jersey to be screened for postpartum depression before they are discharged from the hospital.
Governor-elect Mikie Sherrill, who is set be sworn in on Jan. 20, called Codey “a great public servant.”
“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,” Sherrill, a fellow Essex County Democrat, said. “He truly cared about the people he served. I am lucky to call Governor 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.”
When Codey announced he was stepping aside in August 2023, state Senate President Nick Scutari, D-Union, called Codey “one of the most accomplished state leaders in New Jersey history.” Scutari echoed that sentiment Sunday, calling Codey “a remarkable public servant who touched the lives in meaningful ways of everyone who knew him.”
State Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin, D-Middlesex, said Codey “represented the very best of public service, devoting his life to making government work for the people.” And Senate Majority Leader Teresa Ruiz, D-Essex, called Codey “a true New Jersey legend.”
“Governor Codey was a loving husband, devoted father and grandfather, passionate basketball coach, a proud Seton Hall fan, and a tireless public servant who dedicated his life to the people of New Jersey,” Ruiz said.
New Jersey Sen. Richard Codey draws up a play while coaching his son Chris’s youth basketball team at Roosevelt Middle School on Oct. 18, 2004.SLThey were far from the only ones to pay tribute to Codey’s 18,263 days in office. (He was sworn into his state Assembly seat on Jan. 8, 1974, and relinquished his state Senate position on Jan. 9, 2024.)
Here’s what other New Jersey politicians said following Codey’s death Sunday:
Gov. Phil Murphy:
“If anybody embodied our proud New Jersey values, it was Governor Dick Codey. He proved that every single day of his life. Whether as Governor or as the longest-serving lawmaker in New Jersey history, Dick built a safer, healthier future for all of us. From championing funding for 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.
“Dick’s legacy of heroic service extends well beyond the walls of the State House. As a coach for youth basketball teams, he inspired young New Jerseyans to strive for greatness — on and off the court. As a funeral director, he consoled our families during their darkest moments and guided them through grief and loss. And as a dear, personal friend, Dick was there for Tammy and me, back when it was cold, dark, and lonely.
“When Dick announced his retirement from the Legislature back in 2023, he wisely observed that ‘public service is about making a difference in the lives of people. It’s about working together to create a better future for everyone.’ For more than half a century, Dick did exactly that. He distinguished himself as the consummate public servant, working alongside New Jerseyans of all beliefs and backgrounds to chart a brighter path forward. He will be dearly missed.”
State Senate Minority Leader Anthony Bucco, R-Morris:
“I’m heartbroken to hear that former Governor Dick Codey passed this morning. We worked together on many important issues that helped move New Jersey forward, and I came to know him as a true friend and someone who led with humility, kindness, and humor. He leaves behind a lasting legacy of service and integrity that will be felt for generations.”
Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo
“Richard Codey was a prominent figure in Essex County and New Jersey for over a half century, serving as an Assemblyman, Senate President and Interim Governor. I respected Dick for his ability to get things done and how he always was a staunch advocate for his constituents. I am glad that we dedicated Codey Arena in his honor in 2005 while he was alive so that he could see how much people appreciated him and the impact he had.”
State Sen. Joe Vitale, D-Middlesex:
“New Jersey has lost a leader of extraordinary compassion, integrity, and courage. Dick Codey devoted his life to public service, doing so with humility, honesty, and a deep commitment to improving the lives of others. Our state is stronger because of his leadership. Throughout his decades in the Legislature and as Governor, Dick never sought the spotlight, but he never hesitated to lead. He was an advocate for mental health care and social justice, often taking on the most difficult issues simply because they were the right things to do. His work changed lives and helped reduce stigma for countless families across New Jersey.”
State Sen. John McKeon, D-Essex:
“Governor Richard J. Codey was a legend. Just yesterday, I was meeting with a constituent who shared a touching story about how Governor Codey mentored his son and the profound impact he had on his life. It spoke volumes about the kind of man Governor Codey was. This was just one of the thousands of lives which he touched. His integrity, compassion and unwavering commitment to public service left a lasting mark on our state and on everyone he served, especially myself. I first met Governor Codey when I was in middle school. From that moment, he took me under his wing, and I later had the privilege of working alongside him in his early days as an Assemblyman. Observing firsthand his empathy, humility and advocacy for those who could not speak for themselves have had a profound and enduring influence on my professional life.”
Then-Assemblyman Richard Codey, D-Essex, in 1980.Trenton Times
State Sen. and former Gov. Richard Codey in his legislative office in 2014.