Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04), Dean of the New Jersey Congressional Delegation, released the following statement upon learning of the death early today of former U.S. Congresswoman Margaret “Marge” Roukema of New Jersey.
“Marge and I were both first elected to Congress in the Reagan Revolution of 1980, and we served together for many years,” Smith said. “She was a true public servant, always looking out for New Jersey and her district. Marge’s leadership role in the enactment of our nation’s family medical leave legislation assisted countless families and is a fitting legacy for her time in Congress. Marie and I offer our condolences to her family.”
Smith and Roukema both were sworn into Congress in 1981. Roukema served on the Committee on Education and Labor (later renamed the Committee on Education and Workforce) and on the Committee on Banking, Finance, and Urban Affairs (later renamed the Committee on Financial Services). She rose to serve as chair of Financial Services’ the Housing and Community Opportunity Subcommittee, and its Financial Institutions and Consumer Credit Subcommittee, until retiring in 2001.
According to the historical records of the House of Representatives, she was born Margaret Scafati in Newark, N.J., on September 19, 1929, and named for her mother. Her father, Claude, was a first generation Italian-American who worked as an auto mechanic. She earned a B.A. degree in history and political science from Montclair State College in 1951 and subsequently pursued graduate studies there. In 1975 she also did graduate work in city and regional planning at Rutgers University. She worked as a high school teacher in American history and government before marrying Richard W. Roukema, a psychiatrist. The couple raised three children: Greg, Todd, and Meg. Marge Roukema’s first public service position was on the board of education in Ridgewood, N.J., where she served from 1970 to 1973. Her political activity was, in part, spurred by her 17–year–old son, Todd, and his battle with leukemia.
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