Matt Rainey/Star Ledger
Alex DeCroce's death shocked lawmakers and legislative staff who had been working with him all evening.
Veteran New Jersey legislator Alex DeCroce, minority leader of the state assembly and a mentor to Gov. Chris Christie, collapsed and died after a late-night Statehouse session.
The 75-year-old Republican was discovered inside a first-floor bathroom at the Trenton building around 11:30 p.m., just minutes after the 214th Legislature wrapped up its final votes.
Fellow Assemblyman Herb Conaway, a doctor, came to DeCroce?s aid but couldn?t revive the veteran legislator.
?This is an enormous loss for our state and for me personally,? said a statement from Christie, who postponed his Tuesday state of the state address.
An emotional Christie arrived at the Statehouse around midnight, where he broke down while hugging other legislative leaders.
?Tonight I lost a dear friend, colleague and mentor," Christie said. "He helped to give me my start in elective politics in Morris County in 1993. He was one of the most kind, considerate and trustworthy people I have ever had the pleasure to know.?
The tragedy also led the state Assembly and Senate to scale back their plans for Tuesday?s scheduled swearing in of new members.
DeCroce ? the longest-serving member of the state Assembly ? was expected to attend both Christie?s annual address and the swearing-in.
The stunning death of the Parsippany, N.J., Republican came after a daylong session where the Legislature voted on a series of last-minute bills.
DeCroce, a graduate of Seton Hall University, was appointed to fill an Assembly vacancy in 1989, and was elected to the post in November of the same year.
He became the Assembly minority leader in 2003, and served on the Bipartisan Leadership Committee and the Legislative Services Commission.
He was also president of a Parsippany-Troy Hills real estate business.
DeCroce was survived by his wife, Betty Lou; their three adult children; and two grandchildren. Betty Lou DeCroce is a deputy commissioner in the state Department of Community Affairs.
Colleagues were quick to praise DeCroce for his years of hard work and service.
?He was always ready with a handshake and a laugh, no matter the circumstances, and his devotion to the people of New Jersey was unwavering,? said a joint statement from Assembly speaker Sheila Oliver and Assemblyman Louis Greenwald.
DeCroce's body was covered, placed on a stretcher and brought out of the Statehouse about 12:40 a.m. His district included parts of Morris and Passaic counties.
lmcshane@nydailynews.com
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