Richard “Dick” Codey, a former acting governor of New Jersey and the longest-serving legislator in the state’s history, died Sunday at his home after a brief illness. He was 79.
Codey’s wife, Mary Jo Codey, confirmed his death to The Associated Press. “Gov. Richard J. Codey passed away peacefully this morning at home, surrounded by family, after a brief illness,” the family wrote in a Facebook post Sunday.
“Our family has lost a beloved husband, father and grandfather — and New Jersey lost a remarkable public servant who touched the lives of all who knew him,” the family said.
Codey, a Democrat known for a feisty, regular-guy persona, served three stints as acting governor and spent decades as one of Trenton’s most prominent advocates for mental health awareness. He championed legislation to ban smoking from indoor areas in New Jersey and sought more state money for stem cell research.
From funeral home to Trenton
Codey, the son of a northern New Jersey funeral home owner, entered the state Assembly in 1974 and served there until his election to the state Senate in 1982. He served as Senate president from 2002 to 2010.
He first became acting governor briefly in 2002, after Christine Todd Whitman resigned to join President George W. Bush’s administration. He held the post again for 14 months after Gov. Jim McGreevey resigned in 2004. New Jersey law at the time mandated that the Senate president assume the governor’s role when a vacancy occurred, with that person serving until the next scheduled election.
Codey routinely drew strong praise in public polls and gave serious consideration to seeking the Democratic nomination for governor in 2005. He ultimately chose not to run when party leaders opted to back Jon Corzine, a wealthy Wall Street executive who went on to win the office.
Codey became acting governor a third time in April 2007, after Corzine was incapacitated by injuries from a car accident. He held the post for nearly a month before Corzine resumed his duties.
After leaving the governor’s office, Codey returned to the state Senate and published a memoir documenting his decades in public service.
Mental health advocacy
Codey and his wife spoke candidly for years about Mary Jo’s past struggles with postpartum depression. That openness led to a public dispute in early 2005, when a talk radio host jokingly criticized Mary Jo and her mental health on the air. Codey, who was at the station for another purpose, confronted the host. The two sides offered conflicting accounts of exactly what was said in that exchange.
Mary Jo Codey told the AP that her husband supported her decision to speak publicly about her experience, whatever the political cost.
“He was a really, really good guy,” Mary Jo Codey said. “He said, ‘If you want to do it, I don’t care if I get elected again.’”
“He lived his life with humility, compassion and a deep sense of responsibility to others,” the family wrote. “He made friends as easily with Presidents as he did with strangers in all-night diners.”