1st Woman To Serve All 3 Branches In NJ Government Honored, Flags Fly Half-Staff

UNION COUNTY, NJ — In honor of the recent passing of Judge Barbara Curran, Gov. Phil Murphy announced that flags will fly half-staff at all state buildings and offices on Thursday.

Former Assemblywoman Curran died on Jan. 29 at age 81. She was the first woman to serve in all three branches of New Jersey state government and has roots in Union County. All flags will be lowered on Thursday until sunset.

Curran served in the state legislature, as a member of the Governor's Cabinet and as a Superior Court Judge.

Prior to her long career in civil service, Curran earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College in Indiana, as well as a Master of Arts degree from Syracuse University and her Juris Doctor from Seton Hall University School of Law.

She also worked as an editor for two Union County papers — the Rahway News Record and the Clark Patriot.

According to New Jersey Globe, Curran first became involved in politics when she worked on Richard Nixon's 1968 presidential campaign and managed former Senate President Frank McDermott's 1969 campaign for the Republican nomination for governor.

She also served as Republican State Chairman Nelson Gross's assistant during William Cahill’s successful bid for governor in 1969.

Curran was named the first woman Executive Director of the New Jersey Republican State Committee and was subsequently elected to represent District 24 in the State Assembly in 1973 when she was 33 years old.

She was then re-elected as an assemblywoman in 1975 and 1977.

Later in her career, Curran was nominated to be a Judge of the Superior Court by Gov. Jim Florio in 1992, and, after confirmation, served on the bench until her retirement in 2000.

But even after her retirement Curran continued to serve her community. She held a position as a general counsel to the No Greater Sacrifice Foundation, a non-profit organization that provided scholarships to the children of fallen and wounded veterans.

Murphy's executive order states, "Judge Curran shattered many glass ceilings throughout her
career, inspiring young women across New Jersey, and advancing the interests of others, all while raising her beloved daughter Katie as a single mother."

Murphy also said Curran was a trailblazer who was well-respected by both Democrats and Republicans and that she will be greatly missed.

A funeral was held at Bradley, Brough & Dangler Funeral Home in Summit on Feb. 3.

Read the full obituary here.