New Jersey Lt. Gov. Sheila Oliver has died at the age of 71 after she was hospitalized on Monday for an undisclosed medical condition.
Oliver’s death comes as Gov. Phil Murphy (D-NJ) is out of the country on a vacation in Italy, and Senate President Nicholas Scutari, a Democrat, has taken over as acting governor. Murphy is not expected to return to New Jersey until Aug. 13. Oliver’s cause of death has not been reported.
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Oliver’s death was confirmed in a statement from Murphy on Tuesday.
“Tammy and I, and our children, are incredibly saddened to learn of the passing of our dear friend, colleague, and partner in government,” Murphy posted to X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter. “We ask that you all keep the Oliver family and all those who loved her in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.”
Tammy and I, and our children, are incredibly saddened to learn of the passing of our dear friend, colleague, and partner in government, @LtGovOliver.
We ask that you all keep the Oliver family and all those who loved her in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time. pic.twitter.com/ty6drz7DgY— Governor Phil Murphy (@GovMurphy) August 1, 2023
Oliver was receiving care at Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston, New Jersey, at the time of her death.
The New Jersey native had served as the lieutenant governor since 2018. She also served concurrently as the head of the Department of Community Affairs. Before she ran as Murphy’s running mate, Oliver became the first African American woman to serve as speaker of the New Jersey Assembly in 2010.
“When I selected her to be my running mate in 2017, Lieutenant Governor Oliver was already a trailblazer in every sense of the word,” Murphy said in his statement. “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.”
Sens. Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Bob Menendez (D-NJ) also honored Oliver’s legacy in separate statements Tuesday. Booker celebrated the trailblazer and highlighted their friendship that spanned decades and included Booker’s time as the mayor of Newark.
“I will miss her and her inspiring leadership and yet her legacy will live on for countless generations to come,” Booker said. “Lt. Gov. Oliver made history as the first Black woman to serve as Assembly speaker and the first to win a statewide election in New Jersey. Because of her, young women all across our state know it is possible to reach new heights while also serving others.”
Menendez reflected on Oliver’s speech in 2018 at his annual “Women of Distinction” award ceremony, where she called for investments in working-class women and families.
“This is how I will choose to remember Lieutenant Governor Oliver: as a fighter, as a reformer, and as a committed leader for a better tomorrow in our state,” the senator said.
Oliver’s family also confirmed her death Tuesday, saying she left behind a “legacy of dedication, service, and inspiration.”
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“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,” the family said in a statement. “We will remember her commitment to the people of New Jersey and her tireless efforts to uplift the community … May her memory be a source of comfort and strength to all who knew her.”
The family added that more information on memorial arrangements, including a service, will be released soon. Scutari will remain the acting governor of New Jersey until Murphy returns from Italy.
