TRENTON, N.J. – Richard “Dick” Codey, renowned for being New Jersey’s longest-serving legislator and a former acting governor, has passed away at the age of 79.

Mary Jo Codey, his wife, confirmed his passing to The Associated Press.

“This morning, Governor Richard J. Codey peacefully departed at home, surrounded by his family, after a brief illness,” the family shared on Codey’s official Facebook page.

“We have lost a cherished husband, father, and grandfather, while New Jersey mourns the loss of a distinguished public servant who left an indelible mark on everyone he met,” the family’s statement continued.

Codey, well-regarded for his relatable and spirited demeanor, was a passionate advocate for mental health awareness and care. As a Democrat, he also played a crucial role in pushing legislation that prohibited indoor smoking and campaigned for increased funding for stem cell research.

Born to a funeral home owner in northern New Jersey, Codey began his political journey in the state Assembly in 1974, where he served until his election to the state Senate in 1982. He held the position of Senate president from 2002 until 2010.

Codey first served as acting governor for a brief time in 2002, after Christine Todd Whitman’s resignation to join President George W. Bush’s administration. He held the post again for 14 months after Gov. Jim McGreevey resigned in 2004.

At that time, New Jersey law mandated that the Senate president assume the governor’s role if a vacancy occurred, and that person would serve until the next election.

Codey routinely drew strong praise from residents in polls, and he gave serious consideration to seeking the Democratic nomination for governor in 2005. But he ultimately chose not to run when party leaders opted to back wealthy Wall Street executive Jon Corzine, who went on to win the office.

Codey would again become acting governor after Corzine was incapacitated in April 2007 due to serious injuries he suffered in a car accident. He held the post for nearly a month before Corzine resumed his duties.

After leaving the governor’s office, Codey returned to the Senate and also published a memoir that detailed his decades of public service, along with stories about his personal and family life.

“He lived his life with humility, compassion and a deep sense of responsibility to others,” his family wrote. “He made friends as easily with Presidents as he did with strangers in all-night diners.”

Codey and his wife often spoke candidly about her past struggles with postpartum depression, and that led to controversy in early 2005, when a talk radio host jokingly criticized Mary Jo and her mental health on the air.

Codey, who was at the radio station for something else, confronted the host and said he told him that he wished he could “take him outside.” But the host claimed Codey actually threatened to “take him out,” which Codey denied.

His wife told The Associated Press that Codey was willing to support her speaking out about postpartum depression, even if it cost him elected office.

“He was a really, really good guy,” Mary Jo Codey said. “He said, ‘If you want to do it, I don’t care if I get elected again.’”

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Jack Brook contributed reporting from New Orleans.