By Walter Elliott
EAST ORANGE – Staff here at the Sheila Y. Oliver Academy did not need Acting Gov. Nicholas Scutari’s executive order to lower their flags to half-staff here Tuesday afternoon.
The East Orange School District’s elementary school, which opened in Oliver’s name in 2019, lowered their flags in one of the first expressions of mourning for the former school board president, Essex County Freeholder, State Assemblywoman, General Assembly Speaker and Lieutenant Governor.
Oliver, 71, was Acting Governor for the vacationing Gov. Phil Murphy when she was admitted to RWJBarnabasHealth Cooperman-Barnabas Hospital in Livingston July 31. News of Oliver’s death began circulating on Noon Tuesday.
“It’s with a heavy heart that we inform you of the untimely passing of our namesake, Lt. Gov. Sheila Y. Oliver,” said academy principal Yvy Joseph. “We’ll continue to keep Ms. Oliver and her loved ones in our hearts and prayers. We ask you to do the same.”
“We’re deeply saddened to hear of the passing of our Lt. Gov. Sheila Y. Oliver,” added EOSD Superintendent Dr. AbdulSaleem Hasan. “Let her dedication to public service serve as an inspiration to all of us, especially our students, to make a positive difference in the world.”
Oliver was executive director of The Leaguers and an Essex County College and Caldwell College teacher when she was appointed to the EOSD Board of Education in 1994. Her peers named her Board Vice President in 1998 and President in 1999.
Oliver was meanwhile first elected as Essex County Third District Freeholder (now Commissioner) 1996-99. She lost her county re-election in 1999. narrowly lost her East Orange mayor election to incumbent Robert T. Bowser in 1997.
“I met Sheila over 50 years ago when we were both in high school (and) served together on the Board of Freeholders,” said Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo (D-Nutley). “Sheila was always someone I could turn to for help and her knowledge of government was extraordinary, having served every level of government. She only cared about helping people and making the lives of those in need better.”
DiVincenzo was referring to when he was attending Barringer High School and she was in Weequahic High School – both in Newark.
Sheila Yvette Oliver was born July 14, 1952 in Newark and was raised in the South Ward. As recently as 2021, she and “Local Talk” ran into each other while buying cookies at the Level One Bakery on Bergen Street.
“Newark’s in mourning – we’ve lost a favorite daughter, cherished and revered,” said Newark Mayor Ras Baraka. “Long before she was Lt. Gov., Sheila Oliver mentored so many in our city – with wisdom, compassion, intelligence and a fierce dedication to diversity, equality, equity and justice.”
Oliver narrowly lost her East Orange mayoral bid against incumbent Robert T. Bowser in 1997. She, at Bowser’s funeral, said that her defeat was the best thing that could happen to her.
“I’m shocked and profoundly heartbroken to learn of (the) passing of one of the greatest trail blazers our state has ever known,” said East Orange Mayor Theodore “Ted” Green. “She always reminded me that, if I don’t get a seat at the table, then I need to bring my own seat. She brought her seat to the table and made the table bigger so everyone can have a seat.”
East Orange and Essex County Democratic Committee Chairman LeRoy Jones picked Oliver and Peter Eagler to run for the two General Assembly District 34 seats in 2003. Both were elected – and Oliver was re-elected for six more two-year terms.
Oliver was selected as Assembly Speaker 2009-2013 – becoming the second African-American woman nationwide and the first in New Jersey to lead a state legislative body.
“Today, we bid farewell to a remarkable woman who was a trailblazer in this state, a friend to so many and, to me, family,” said State Senate Majority Leader M. Teresa Ruiz (D-Newark). “Lt. Gov. Sheila Oliver embodied the spirit of a warrior, a fierce advocate for our communities and led with resilience and compassion. She was a pioneer who shattered glass ceilings and opened doors for so many women and especially women of color.”
Then-U.S. Ambassador to Germany Murphy selected Oliver to be his Lieutenant Governor in his 2017 gubernatorial run. Both Murphy (D-Rumson) and Oliver were re-elected to their second and last term together in 2021.
“Tammy and I and our children are incredibly saddened and distraught to learn of the passing of our dear friend, colleague and partner in government Lt. Gov. Sheila Oliver,” said Murphy while on his annual Italian vacation. “In the five-and-a-half years we served in office together, she (also) led the Department of Community Affairs. As someone who was born and raised in Newark and who also called East Orange home for over 40 years, she didn’t view issues in the abstract because she lived with them every day of her life.”
Oliver, for the record, graduated from Lincoln University cum laude with a degree in sociology in 1974. She was awarded a masters in planning and administration from Columbia University in 1974.
Oliver’s family has not disclosed her cause of death as of 5 p.m. Tuesday. Murphy has indicated that he will return home earlier than Aug. 13. He has 45 days to name Oliver’s successor. Scutari (D-Union) remains Acting Governor.
Funeral arrangements were being made as of “Local Talk” press time.
