CHERRY HILL — Hundreds of people filled a southern New Jersey synagogue on today to bid farewell to former New Jersey Rep. John Adler. Gov. Chris Christie, Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno, Rep. Rob Andrews and former Rep. H. James Saxton — who Adler succeeded in the House — were among the many dignitaries who attended the hour-long funeral service...
Former U.S. Rep. John Adler in a 2009 file photo. Adler died Monday, weeks after undergoing emergency surgery for an infection in tissue around his heart.CHERRY HILL — Hundreds of people filled a southern New Jersey synagogue on today to bid farewell to former New Jersey Rep. John Adler.
Gov. Chris Christie, Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno, Rep. Rob Andrews and former Rep. H. James Saxton — who Adler succeeded in the House — were among the many dignitaries who attended the hour-long funeral service at Temple Emanuel in Cherry Hill.
The 51-year-old Adler died Monday, weeks after undergoing emergency surgery for an infection in tissue around his heart. He had grown up in Haddonfield and graduated from Harvard Law School. The Democrat was a Cherry Hill councilman and was elected to the state Senate in 1991.
He won his congressional seat in 2008 in a traditionally Republican district. And even though he lost re-election in November against former Philadelphia Eagles lineman Jon Runyan. friends recalled that Adler was still poring over proposed legislation during Congress' lame-duck session in December and striving to make it to caucus meetings.
Adler is survived by his wife and four sons.
"He was a mensch — a good, decent, down-to-earth guy," said Rabbi Jerome P. David, who praised Adler for his virtue and his dedication to public service.
Christie issued an executive order late this afternoon, directing that all flags at state buildings be flown at half-staff on Friday in Adler's honor.
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