Frank Lautenberg: “I stand before you saddened by the news that Senator Matthew Feldman has passed away. He made a lifelong commitment to…”

“I stand before you saddened by the news that Senator Matthew Feldman has passed away. He made a lifelong commitment to serving the citizens of New Jersey. During his 35 years in politics, including 22 years in the New Jersey State Senate, Matty, as his friends and family knew him, worked constantly to improve the lives of all New Jerseyans. The son of immigrants, Matty Feldman was born in Jersey City, NJ. He attended the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, and Panzer College. After serving as an Army Corps captain during World War II, he moved to Teaneck, where he resided with his wife Muriel and their three children. He began his political career in 1958, first as a member of the Teaneck Township Council and later as mayor of Teaneck. After his election to the New Jersey Senate in 1965, he served from 1966-68 and again from 1974 until his retirement in January 1994. As senate majority leader from 1974 to 1975, president of the senate in 1977 and 1978, and chairman of the senate education committee for many years, Matty Feldman was a leader in bringing about the passage of historic legislation in the fields of education, youth issues, taxes, and labor. As the education senator, Matty was a tireless advocate of the public school system.”