Anne Martindell, former State Senator and Ambassador, dies

Former State Sen. Anne Clark Martindell, a Democrat who won an upset victory in a solidly Republican legislative district in 1973 and went on to become the United States Ambassador to New Zealand, passed away on Wednesday.  She was 93.

Martindell became involved in politics in 1968 when her brother, Blair Clark, was the campaign manager for Eugene McCarthy’s campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination.  She ran for State Senator in a Hunterdon County-based district that included Princeton, Pennington and the Hopewells, and narrowly defeated incumbent Bill Schluter in 1973, when Watergate caused Republicans to lose ten State Senate seats. 

She left the Senate in 1977 when President Jimmy Carter appointed her to serve as an Ambassador.  Her Senate seat was won by Republican Walter Foran.

Martindell’s book, “Never Too Late: A Memoir” was published this year, and she had cancelled a book signing originally scheduled this week at The Eagleton Institute of Politics due to health issues.

“Ambassador Martindell remained active in the community as well as world affairs , and should be especially honored for completing her college degree in recent years at the age of 87,” said Assemblyman Reed Gusciora (D-Princeton).  “She was especially looking forward to the fall presidential election and took part in local Democratic events.  I know she would have been active in the Obama campaign.”

A memorial service will be held in Princeton this fall, according to her son, Princeton Councilman Roger Martindell.