NY POST
New Jersey Lt. Gov. Sheila Oliver, the first black woman to serve as speaker of the state Assembly, died Tuesday after being hospitalized with an undisclosed illness.
Oliver, 71, was serving as acting governor this week while Gov. Phil Murphy was vacationing in Italy.
She was admitted to Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston on Monday, Murphy’s office announced. Senate President Nicholas Scutari (D-Union) acted in her place, as per the state constitution.
“I knew then that her decades of public service made her the ideal partner for me to lead the state of New Jersey,” Murphy said in a statement. “It was the best decision I ever made.
“She brought a unique and invaluable perspective to our public policy discourse and served as an inspiration to millions of women and girls everywhere,” he said. “Beyond all of that she was an incredibly genuine and kind person whose friendship and partnership will be irreplaceable.”
Murphy is scheduled to return to the state Aug. 13…
