NJEA’s officers, President Sean M. Spiller, Vice President Steve Beatty and Secretary-Treasurer Petal Robertson issued this statement today on the passing of Sen. Ron Rice.
“We are saddened to learn of the passing of Sen. Ron Rice. We offer our condolences to his children, Yuki and Ronald, the rest of his family and loved ones, and the countless people across New Jersey and the world who knew and respected him for his tireless public service.
“Sen. Rice served our nation with distinction as a Marine and never stopped fighting for liberty and justice for all. He was a civil rights titan who spent his long career in public service speaking up for those who were too often silenced and fighting for those who needed a champion. He was a fierce advocate for public education. He understood that education is both the foundation of democracy and the truest path to prosperity for individuals and communities alike. He never ceased advocating for the communities he represented to have the educational resources and opportunities guaranteed to them by New Jersey’s constitution.
“His presence will be missed in New Jersey but his legacy lives on in the laws he helped pass, the lives he touched and the light he shined throughout his career.”