TRENTON—Condolences are pouring in amid the news that New Jersey Lt. Gov. Sheila Oliver has died after she was admitted to the hospital this week for an undisclosed medical issue.
Her family announced Tuesday, Aug. 1: “It is with incredible sadness and a heavy heart that we announce the passing of the Honorable Sheila Y. Oliver, Lieutenant Governor of the State of New Jersey. She was not only a distinguished public servant but also our cherished daughter, sister, aunt, friend, and hero.”
They said, “As we come to terms with this profound loss, we kindly request that you respect the privacy of the Oliver family during this difficult time as they grieve their beloved Sheila” and “Sheila Y. Oliver leaves behind a legacy of dedication, service, and inspiration. We will remember her commitment to the people of New Jersey and her tireless efforts to uplift the community.”
Oliver, 71, was acting as governor in Gov. Phil Murphy’s stead while he vacations this week in Italy, scheduled to return Aug. 13. State Senate President Steve Scutari (D) became acting governor Monday morning.
Murphy said in a statement on social media, “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.
“When I selected her to be my running mate in 2017, Lieutenant Governor Oliver was already a trailblazer in every sense of the word. 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. I knew then that her decades of public service made her the ideal partner for me to lead the State of New Jersey. It was the best decision I ever made.
“In the five and a half years that we served together in office, in addition to her responsibilities as Lieutenant Governor, Sheila led the Department of Community Affairs, handling some of the most challenging issues facing our State, including the revitalization of our cities, affordable housing obligations, and homelessness prevention. As someone who was born and raised in Newark, and who has called East Orange home for more than 40 years, Sheila did not view these issues in the abstract because she lived with them every day of her life. She brought a unique and invaluable perspective to our public policy discourse and served as an inspiration to millions of women and girls everywhere, especially young women of color.
“Beyond all of that, she was an incredibly genuine and kind person whose friendship and partnership will be irreplaceable. We ask that you all keep the Oliver family and all those who knew and loved her in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.”
Oliver and Murphy won re-election to second terms in 2021. Oliver served as Assembly speaker for four years beginning in 2010.
Oliver was receiving care at Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston, said Mahen Gunaratna, the governor’s communications director, in a statement Monday. Officials declined to provide further details on Oliver’s condition at the time.
Her state bio says she was a self-described “Jersey Girl,” born and raised in an ethnically diverse Newark neighborhood.
“Lieutenant Governor Oliver was inspired as a young girl to be a fighter for the voiceless when her eyes were opened to societal injustices and inequities around her, often citing ‘A Tale of Two Cities’ as her youth awakening. She has since pioneered a successful career in public service advocating for social justice, women’s equality, and education, ultimately becoming the first woman of color to serve in a statewide elected office in New Jersey history,” the bio says.
After giving much on her public accomplishments, the bio ends on a warm personal note: “She is a proud 40-plus-year resident of East Orange where she treasures her time with her 95-year-old mother, who has always encouraged her to be a critical thinker while fostering her passion for helping people through effective public policy.”