Assembly Majority Leader Louis Greenwald (D-Camden, Burlington) released the following statement on the passing of former Assemblywoman Mary Previte, who represented the 6th legislative district from 1998 to 2006:
“Assemblywoman Previte and I represented the 6th Legislative District together for eight years, and in that time we formed a lasting friendship built around our dedication to public service and the desire to improve our community. What I remember most is her wonderful sense of humor and the long hours I spent on the campaign trail watching her charm constituents with her incredible wit. There was nobody quite like her.
“Assemblywoman Previte was also no stranger to adversity. She spent years in a Japanese concentration camp during World War II, where she was separated from her parents and had far too little to eat. After she was liberated, she moved to the United States and dedicated her life to serving her community.
“Mary was a devoted mother, teacher and public servant. Her passion for children guided much of her work, from her efforts to improve Camden County’s juvenile corrections center as a freeholder to championing legislation in the Assembly to benefit children and families. She also worked tirelessly to give back to the veterans community, and never stopped working to improve the lives of men and women in the service.
“We will never forget all Mary has done for her community, her state and her country. My heart goes out to the Previte family at this difficult time.”