Steve Wileya

June 13, 2008 - 12:03am

Martindell combined gentility and a commitment to the voiceless

By Max Pizarro, PolitickerNJ.com Reporter

Anne Martindell (1914-2008) served in the New Jersey State Senate from 1974 to 1977.State Sen. Anne Martindell of Princeton, who died yesterday at 93, championed the underdog throughout a life marked by public service and a thirst for knowledge and self-improvement. In the words of her son, Princeton Councilman Roger Martindell, "she fought for what she believed in, and she was gracious in the fight."

Elected to the state Senate as a Democrat in 1973 as part of the Watergate backlash that landed a number of Democrats in the Statehouse to form a 28-12 Democratic majority, Martindell served one term before becoming President Jimmy Carter’s Ambassador to New Zealand.

In her eighties, she doubled back on the college career she never completed. Sixty-years after leaving Smith College following her freshman year, Martindell obtained her Bachelor’s degree from Smith and an honorary doctorate of law in 2002.

On Thursday, news of her death brought forth an outpouring of goodwill from those who knew her and those with whom she served in Trenton, including former Gov. Brendan T. Byrne.

Start the discussion

Contributors

Wally Edge

Doherty takes seat today

Michael Doherty. a West Point graduate and one of the state's most conservative legislators, will take his seat in the State Senate today. A ... >

Bob Torricelli

Torricelli on Chris Christie and New Jersey's future

Everybody needs to start a new job with a list of priorities and Chris Christie is no exception. There might be a thousand things that need to get ... >

Michael Patrick Carroll

Taking Corzineism National

Political discourse in America contains much in the way of intellect or intellectual honesty. One considers the Federalist Papers with wistful awe: ... >

Jeff Michaels

Obama blind spot?

The NJ gubernatorial election result demonstrates that Governor-elect Chris Christie resurrected the center-right voter coalition of Republicans, ... >

Richard LaRossa

Congratulations Governor Elect Christopher J. Christie

With a convincing win in defeating an encumbent Governor, why were there no coattails? >

Alan Steinberg

1992-1993: How Divided Government Worked in New Jersey

As in any transition, speculation is rampant as to whom Governor-elect Chris Christie will appoint as Chief of Staff, State Treasurer, and Attorney ... >

Dr. Joseph Marbach

Lessons from the campaign

Now that the dust has finally settled after the grueling campaign for governor, there are a number of lessons that we can draw from this ... >

Carla Katz

Christie and Labor: 5 Things the Governor-Elect Can Do

When he was growing up, Chris Christie's folks must have taught him that when he went to a new playground, he should pick a fight with the ... >

Joey Novick

New Jersey comedian Joey Novick ends “Oprah Boycott” of the Oprah Winfrey Show After 23 years.

“My work is done here. Winfrey has finally succumbed,” announced Novick at a press conference, pumping his fist in ‘win’ style. ... >

Murray Sabrin

Will Chris Christie punt or do the right thing?

New Jersey voters repudiated Governor Jon Corzine's policies of the past four years on November 3rd. Republican Chris Christie and Independent ... >