Ralph DeRose

Ralph DeRose of Secaucus, N.J., a lawyer, former state senator and twice New Jersey gubernatorial candidate, died Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2011, at the age of 83. A Funeral Mass will be held on Saturday, Jan. 14, 2012, at 10 a.m. at St Rose of Lima Church, 50 Short Hills Ave., Short Hills, N.J. For further information or to send the family a condolence, please visit www.bradleyfuneralhomes.com. Arrangements are by Bradley, Smith & Smith Funeral Home, Springfield, N.J. Mr. DeRose was born in Newark, N.J., in 1928. He completed his undergraduate studies at Rutgers University and became a graduate of Rutgers Law School. He began his law practice in Newark, N.J., in the 1960's, ultimately moving to Nutley, N.J., where he was the senior partner of the firm DeRose & Rinaldi. He later became vice president and general counsel of Little Ferry-based Major Products Co., a global manufacturer of soup base, gravy and seasonings. The company was founded by Mr. DeRose's late brother, Daniel DeRose Jr. Mr. DeRose was a member of the board of trustees for Columbus Hospital, in Newark, N.J., and served as president of the board. He was also active in New Jersey politics through the 1960's and '70's, eventually representing Essex County in the state Senate, where he strongly opposed the creation of a state income tax. He later ran in the 1973 and 1977 New Jersey Democratic gubernatorial primaries. In 1974, Governor Brendan Byrne appointed Mr. DeRose the New Jersey commissioner for the Bi-State Waterfront Commission of New York Harbor, an interstate government regulatory agency having the mission of investigating and policing criminal activity in the port district. He also returned to serve as the commission's secretary in the early 1980's. In 1981, Mr. DeRose led "Democrats for Kean," supporting the successful candidacy of Thomas Kean for governor, a contest that ended in one of the closest election victories in New Jersey history, 1,791 votes. Governor Kean went on to become so popular that he was re-elected by the largest victory margin in the history of New Jersey's races for governor. Mr. DeRose is survived by sons, Daryn, of Springfield, N.J., and Dayn, of Harding Township, N.J., and his sister, Anne Marie DiPaola, of Emerson, N.J., and many loving neices and nephews.