Governor Chris Christie gave a eulogy at the statehouse Tuesday afternoon, to remember Assembly Republican leader Alex DeCroce.
"I had no more loyal friend in Trenton than Alex DeCroce," Christie said.
Christie says the lawmaker helped him get his start in elective office, and was a valued advisor for nearly twenty years.
Assemblyman DeCroce collapsed and died late Monday night, in a men's room at the Statehouse. The 75-year-old lawmaker had spent all evening there as the Legislature voted on many last-minute bills.
"He passed doing what he loved, serving the people of New Jersey, but it does not lessen the pain," Christie said, as he offered condolences to the DeCroce family.
The Governor postponed Tuesday's state-of-the-state speech, so he could honor DeCroce instead. No new date has been announced for the annual address, but it will most likely be next week.
DeCroce was re-elected eleven times throughout his political career.
