Officials And Donors Celebrate Opening Of "Alex DeCroce Media Center"

The County College of Morris (CCM) Board of Trustees and Foundation Board of Directors hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Tuesday, December 8, to celebrate the renovation of the Media Center and its naming in honor of late New Jersey Assemblyman Alex DeCroce.

Attending the celebration were members of the Morris County Board of Chosen Freeholders and other contributors to the foundation’s Visioning the Future campaign that helped to fund the center’s renovation. The Freeholders contributed $1 million from the county’s capital budget for the project. Another $900,000 was raised by the foundation in individual, corporate, private foundation and public support. Also in attendance to mark the opening of the Alex DeCroce Media Center were students, faculty and other members of the CCM community.

Prior to serving as an assemblyman, DeCroce served as a Morris County freeholder, as a CCM trustee and as Board of Trustee chair.

“As a result of the generosity of those who contributed to the campaign, we were able to create a state-of-the-art facility for the benefit of our students and local businesses,” said Dr. Edward J. Yaw, CCM president. “It is especially appropriate that this new center now is named in memory of Alex DeCroce who was such a strong proponent of education and a long-time supporter of the college through his many years of service as a Freeholder, on our Board of Trustees and as an Assemblyman.”

“‘An investment in knowledge pays the best interest’ said Benjamin Franklin,” noted Assemblywoman BettyLou DeCroce. “My husband, Assemblyman Alex DeCroce, knew that to be true and it served him well as a trustee and board chair at CCM. Our family greatly appreciates this recognition. We are so pleased that the investment into this state-of-the-art media center will serve not only the students but the community at large…”

The Alex DeCroce Media Center functions as a TV studio and classroom for students majoring in Broadcasting Arts and Technology or Communication. It also is a vital resource for faculty, staff and the community, providing multimedia support for a range of activities including classroom presentations, audio and video productions, sound and video for computer programs, and on-campus conferences. It also will be available to the area’s corporate and business community for the production of training, promotional and other videos.

Route 53 Renamed "Assemblyman DeCroce Memorial Highway"

Parsippany Focus -
It’s official. Route 53 has been renamed “Assemblyman DeCroce Memorial Highway” at a ceremony held, on Tuesday, November 10 in front of Verde Restaurant.

Sheriff Edward Rochford said “This is a fitting Tribute for a person who dedicated his life to public service especially transportation issues.”

“I extend my sincerest thanks to the bill’s bi-partisan sponsors for initiating this measure. Those who knew Alex know he never sought the limelight. In fact, he would be quite uncomfortable over this because he was not one to flaunt his accomplishments. His only goal was to get the job done for the people of his district and the state. Alex was a huge supporter of transportation issues. To have Route 53, which runs through his hometown and district, named for him is truly a great honor to his legacy,” said Assemblywoman BettyLou DeCroce.

Alex, who devoted his life to public service, was an avid proponent of transportation issues in New Jersey, and was a former chairman of the committee. He was the prime sponsor of legislation that renewed the Transportation Trust Fund. He also was a strong advocate for crime victims’ rights.

Route 53 is a state highway that spans nearly five miles from U.S. Route 202 in Morris Plains, continues throught Parsippany north to Bloomfield Avenue in Denville. The route runs east of New Jersey Transit’s Morristown Line and passes under the New Jersey Transit’s Montclair-Boonton Line near the Denville Station.

The full Senate unanimously approved the legislation, S-2580/A-3789 on September 12, 2013. Governor Chris Christie signed the bill approving the legislation on January 21, 2014.

Route 53 Now Officially "DeCroce Memorial Highway'

Source: Morris Bee -

It’s official.

Gov. Chris Christie signed bipartisan legislation Thursday renaming Route 53 (Tabor Road) to the Alex DeCroce Memorial Highway after DeCroce, who served as Assembly Republican Leader when he died following a legislative session in January 2012.

DeCroce’s wife, District 26 Assemblywoman BettyLou DeCroce, R-Morris, Essex and Passaic, issued the statement Jan. 6 following the General Assembly passage of the bill.

“I extend my sincerest thanks to the bill’s bi-partisan sponsors for initiating this measure. Those who knew Alex know he never sought the limelight. In fact, he would be quite uncomfortable over this because he was not one to flaunt his accomplishments. His only goal was to get the job done for the people of his district and the state. Alex was a huge supporter of transportation issues. To have Rt. 53, which runs through his hometown and district, named for him is truly a great honor to his legacy.”

DeCroce was noted an avid proponent of transportation issues in New Jersey, and was a former chairman of the Transportation Committee. He was the prime sponsor of legislation that renewed the Transportation Trust Fund. He also was a strong advocate for crime victims’ rights.

Route 53 is a state highway that spans about  five miles from U.S. Route 202 in Morris Plains north to Bloomfield Avenue in Denville.

Assembly Approves Bill to Rename Route 53 Alex DeCroce Memorial Highway

Source: Jefferson Patch

The New Jersey General Assembly followed in the footsteps of the state Senate Monday by passing a measure to rename Route 53 in Morris County after former Assembly Republican Leader Alex DeCroce of Parsippany, who died suddenly in January 2012. Asw. BettyLou DeCroce, who was appointed and then elected to fill her late husband’s seat, released a statement to express her gratitude.

BettyLou DeCroce

“I extend my sincerest thanks to the bill’s bipartisan sponsors for initiating this measure,” said the assemblywoman, who represents District 26, which covers parts of Morris, Essex and Passaic counties.

The Senate approved its version of the legislation in September 2013.

DeCroce said she isn’t sure that her husband would share her happiness at the bill’s passage by both legislative houses.

“Those who knew Alex know he never sought the limelight,” his widow said. “In fact, he would be quite uncomfortable over this because he was not one to flaunt his accomplishments. His only goal was to get the job done for the people of his district and the state.”

DeCroce said re-naming the nearly 5-mile, state-controlled thoroughfare, which starts in Morris Plains and runs through Parsippany and Denville, is an appropriate tribute for the late lawmaker.

“Alex was a huge supporter of transportation issues,” she said, noting that he was former chair of the transportation committee, prime sponsor of the renewal of the Transportation Trust Fund and a crime victims’ advocate. “To have Route 53, which runs through his hometown and district, named for him is truly a great honor to his legacy.”

The bill, S-2580/A-3789, now heads to Gov. Chris Christie for his consideration.