Essex County Native Sheila Oliver Dies; NJ 'Hero' Had Deep Local Roots

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — Essex County residents are mourning a powerful and inspiring political force who died this week, leaving a legacy of community service behind her: New Jersey Lt. Gov. Sheila Oliver.

Oliver, 71, was born in Newark and lived in East Orange. She served in the New Jersey General Assembly from 2004 to 2018 in the 34th legislative district, and served as Assembly speaker for two terms as a member of the Democratic Party.
Gov. Phil Murphy first chose the self-described “Jersey Girl” as his running mate in the 2017 election, which they won. Murphy and Oliver were re-elected in 2021.

Oliver’s death was announced on Tuesday in a statement from her family members. Read More: New Jersey Lt. Gov. Sheila Oliver Dies, Family Announces
“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,” they wrote. “She was not only a distinguished public servant but also our cherished daughter, sister, aunt, friend and hero.”

The statement continued:

“As we come to terms with this profound loss, we kindly request that you respect the privacy of the Oliver family during this difficult time as they grieve their beloved Sheila. Sheila Y. Oliver leaves behind a legacy of dedication, service, and inspiration. We will remember her commitment to the people of New Jersey and her tireless efforts to uplift the community. Further information and details regarding memorial arrangements will be provided in due course. Until then, we appreciate your understanding and support. May her memory be a source of comfort and strength to all who knew her.”

Oliver, who was acting as governor while Murphy is on vacation in Italy, was hospitalized Monday for an undisclosed cause, officials said.

Senate President Nicholas Scutari assumed the role of acting governor on Monday. Read More: Lt. Gov. Hospitalized, Senate President Named Acting NJ Governor
Gov. Murphy said that he and First Lady Tammy Murphy – as well as their family members – are “incredibly saddened and distraught” about Oliver’s passing.

“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. “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,” Murphy said.
“It was the best decision I ever made,” he added.
The governor hinted at Oliver’s deep connection with her roots in Essex County:

“In the five and a half years that we served together in office, in addition to her responsibilities as lieutenant governor, Sheila led the Department of Community Affairs, handling some of the most challenging issues facing our state, including the revitalization of our cities, affordable housing obligations, and homelessness prevention. As someone who was born and raised in Newark, and who has called East Orange home for more than 40 years, Sheila did not view these issues in the abstract because she lived with them every day of her life. She brought a unique and invaluable perspective to our public policy discourse and served as an inspiration to millions of women and girls everywhere, especially young women of color.”

Oliver – who graduated from Weequahic High School in Newark – taught at the college level, including as an adjunct faculty member at Essex County College and Caldwell University. She previously served on the East Orange Board of Education, as well as the Essex County Board of Chosen Freeholders.