N.J. Admin. Code § Executive Order No. 257 (2021)
Governor Philip D. Murphy
Executive Order No. 257 (2021)
An Order Directing that the U.S. and New Jersey Flags Fly at Half-Staff in Honor of Former Assembly Speaker Pro Tempore Nicholas R. Felice
Issued: August 31, 2021.
Effective: August 31, 2021.
WHEREAS, Nicholas R. Felice, age 94, was a beloved Assemblyman and Mayor from Fair Lawn who served as Assembly Speaker Pro Tempore; and
WHEREAS, Assemblyman Felice was born in Passaic in 1927, attended Passaic High School, the RCA Institute of Technology, and Farleigh Dickinson University; and
WHEREAS, Assemblyman Felice served in the Pacific Theater for the United States Army during World War II as a Technical Sergeant, Communications Chief, 24th Division; and
WHEREAS, Assemblyman Felice served as Mayor of Fair Lawn from 1972 to 1974; and
WHEREAS, prior to becoming a full-time legislator, Assemblyman Felice had a successful career as a Chief Engineer and Vice President at Smith-Meeker Engineering Co., traveled the world as a consulting Radio Engineer for other companies, supervised the Teterboro Airport Aviation Division, and served on the Project Mercury Space Recover Team for NASA; and
WHEREAS, Assemblyman Felice won his first election to the New Jersey General Assembly in 1982 and represented the 40<th> District in the Assembly until 2002; and
WHEREAS, in 1983, Assemblyman Felice happily responded to calls by children looking to speak to Santa Claus due to a misprinting of the "Santa Hot Line" telephone number; and
WHEREAS, Assemblyman Felice's many leadership roles in the Assembly included Speaker Pro Tempore, Deputy Speaker, Assistant Minority Leader, Assistant Majority Leader, and Vice Chair of the Health Committee; and
WHEREAS, Assemblyman Felice made countless critical contributions as a legislator, including with respect to health insurance reform, drug free school zones, spinal cord research, funding for infantile autism, health information network technology legislation, and other protective legislation for seniors, nursing homes, and individuals with disabilities; and
WHEREAS, Assemblyman Felice's many decades of public service and volunteerism included time on the Fair Lawn Borough Council, the Fair Lawn Planning Board, the Board of Trustees for Children's Aid and Family Services, and countless other boards, clubs, and committees; and
WHEREAS, Assemblyman Felice was also a Life Member of Veterans of Foreign Wars ("V.F.W.") Post 281, American Legion Post 171, and received the Achievement Award from the Department of New Jersey V.F.W.; and
WHEREAS, Assemblyman Felice was married to his wife, Vivian C. Felice (nee Micciche) for 64 years, before she passed away in 2017; and
WHEREAS, Assemblyman Felice passed away on August 24, 2021 after spending his final years in Mahwah; and
WHEREAS, Assemblyman Felice is survived by his three sons and their wives, seven grandchildren, his nephew, and his nephew's wife and son; and
WHEREAS, Assemblyman Felice will be remembered for his enduring commitment to his community, State, and country; and
WHEREAS, it is with deep sadness that we mourn the passing of Assemblyman Felice, whose passion and dedication as a public servant will be sorely missed;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, PHILIP D. MURPHY, Governor of the State of New Jersey, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and by the Statutes of this State, do hereby ORDER and DIRECT:
N.J. Admin. Code Executive Order No. 257 (2021)