Amplifying social justice<\/h2>\n
Susan Garofalo, who started working as a member of Rice\u2019s communication team in 2019, said Rice fervently advanced issues of racial equality.<\/p>\n
Garofalo called Rice a straight shooter, who was honest, ethical, and respectful, even when he disagreed with colleagues.<\/p>\n
\u201cSenator Rice is a very complex man. He\u2019s very intelligent. And he has a real clarity about what social justice looks like,\u201d Garofalo said. \u201cSenator Rice always has a sense: if it don\u2019t feel like social justice, it ain\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n
LeRoy Jones Jr., Essex County Democratic chairman and New Jersey state Democratic chairman, said Rice was an \u201cavid supporter\u201d of Jones\u2019 successful campaign for a seat on the Essex County Board of Freeholders in 1988. Jones also served as a member of the General Assembly from 1994 to 2002.<\/p>\n
\u201cSenator Rice was always a champion for the voiceless,\u201d Jones said.<\/p>\n
Rice came up during a time of racial unrest, \u201ckind of no different than they are today,\u201d Jones added.<\/p>\n
The Civil Rights Movement and Newark race riots<\/a> (or \u201crebellion,\u201d as some remember it) of the 1960s occurred during Rice\u2019s early years.<\/p>\n \u201cAfrican Americans and people of color oftentimes were left out of the conversation,\u201d Jones said. \u201cSenator Rice was one that kept African Americans and people of color in the conversation.\u201d<\/p>\n According to multiple reports, Rice has been battling health issues,<\/a> though his colleagues did not confirm how severe, out of respect for the elder statesman.<\/p>\n Rice had not been present at Senate voting sessions this year, either.<\/p>\n In addition to dealing with his own health concerns, he devoted much of his latter tenure to caring for the three most important women in his life, his wife, Shirley; his mother, Mary Sue; and his stepmom, Essie Mae, according to Garofalo.<\/p>\n All three women died within the last two years, staff confirmed.<\/p>\n \u201cHe saw each of them for what they gave to him and what they taught him,\u201d Garofalo said. \u201cI don\u2019t think a lot of people know that, on the weekend, he would drive up to the Poconos \u2026 caring for his bedridden [step]mother.\u201d<\/p>\n The future of Rice\u2019s Senate seat remains unclear.<\/p>\n According to a recent New Jersey Globe report, a decision may rest strongly in Jones\u2019 hands<\/a>, though Jones denied to confirm the Globe\u2019s assessment.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s a process that will take place \u2026 by law,\u201d Jones said. \u201cMembers of the 28th Legislative District, those individuals that are county committee people will be assembled at a meeting..they will select the Democratic nominee.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\nRice\u2019s later years in the Senate<\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/whyy.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/IMG_1007-768x1024.jpg\")
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/whyy.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/IMG_0662-1024x768.jpg\")