Obituary of Kathleen Crotty

Kathleen Crotty, who was the first female staff director in the New Jersey legislature and who was widely recognized for her integrity and her efforts to advance women’s leadership roles in government and politics, died Thursday, August 7th in the company of family and close friends. Ms. Crotty was named Executive Director of the Senate Democratic Office in 1986 by Senate President John F. Russo and was reappointed by Senate Presidents John A. Lynch and Richard J. Codey to the top leadership post which she held until her retirement in 2009 after 43 years of state government service. After working for eight years at the Department of Labor, Ms. Crotty joined the staff of Senate President Frank “Pat” Dodd in 1974 and she never looked back. She also worked for Senate Presidents Matthew Feldman and Carmen A. Orechio. Throughout her Senate career, Ms. Crotty was at the table for virtually every policy and reform development affecting New Jersey residents from education, land use and the environment, human rights, to the proper role of professional staff in the governmental process. Though fiercely loyal to her Democratic Leaders, Ms. Crotty involved herself in a wide range of bipartisan projects and had a particular devotion to the restoration of the State House, its historic legislative chambers and its surrounding landscape. Kathy had a deep love for the City of Trenton and high hopes for its redevelopment. In the last year, despite illness, she spearheaded an internet petition which helped secure funding for a series of free, corporate-sponsored summer concerts in the park behind the State House. She was the Chair of the State Capitol Joint Management Commission; a founding member of PAM’'s List, the political committee that backs Democratic women candidates for the Legislature; a board member for the Wynona Lipman Chair on Women’s Political Leadership at The Center for American Women in Politics (CAWP) at Rutgers University; an Eagleton Institute Visiting Associate; and a recipient of the Barbara Boggs Sigmund Award from the Women’s Political Caucus. She was a district delegate to the 1996 Democratic National Convention and was a member of the State Board of Canvassers. Born in Jersey City in 1945, Kathy grew up in East Orange and was a graduate of East Orange Catholic High School and Rutgers University – Newark, College of Arts and Sciences. She was a longtime resident of Ewing Township. Devoted to and beloved by her family Kathy is survived by 5 sisters: Eileene Hutchinson (James), Margaret Fehon (Edward), Maureen Sweeney (John E), Sheila Crotty, and Patricia Kennedy (Kevin); her sister-in-law Joanne Crotty; 15 nieces and nephews: Jessica Loos, Rebecca Santana, James Fehon, Melissa Verardi, Alexis Fehon, J. Sam Sweeney, Geoff Sweeney, Ben Sweeney, Megan Williams, Jordan Crotty, James Crotty, John David Scott, Michael Hutchinson, Shannon Kennedy Powell and Tara Kennedy as well as 15 great nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her brothers Joseph and James as well as her nephew Brian Loos. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m., Friday, Aug. 14, at the East Gallery of the Visitors Center of the Grounds for Sculpture, 80 Sculptors Way, Hamilton Township. Those attending are asked to arrive by 10:30 a.m. In lieu of flowers donations may be made in Kathy’s memory to the Mercer Street Friends Food Bank, 824 Silvia Street, Ewing Township, N.J. or the Grounds for Sculpture for a memorial bench. To send a condolence to the family, please visit www.poulsonvanhise.com Arrangements are under the supervision of Poulson & Van Hise Funeral Directors, Lawrenceville, NJ.