Nicholas LaRocca

Nicholas J. LaRocca
Member of the New Jersey Senate
from the 33rd district
In office
June 24, 1982 – January 10, 1984
Preceded byWilliam Musto
Succeeded byChristopher Jackman
Member of the New Jersey General Assembly
from the 33rd district
In office
January 10, 1984 – January 7, 1986
Serving with Robert Ranieri
Preceded byThomas Gallo
Christopher Jackman
Succeeded byRonald Dario
Jose Arango
Personal details
Born(1913-10-04)October 4, 1913
Union City, New Jersey
DiedAugust 30, 1999(1999-08-30) (aged 85)
Political partyDemocratic
Residence(s)Union City, New Jersey
Alma materFordham College
New York University

Nicholas J. LaRocca (October 4, 1913 – August 30, 1999) was an American Democratic Party politician who served in both houses of the New Jersey Legislature from the 33rd district. He served a partial term in the New Jersey Senate succeeding his mentor William Musto and then a single term in the New Jersey General Assembly.

LaRocca was born in 1913 in Union City where he attended the local public schools. He graduated from Fordham College in 1934 and received a law degree from New York University in 1937.[1]

He worked as a legislative aide for State Senator (and Union City Mayor) William Musto at the time of Musto's removal from the Senate for his conviction on receiving kickbacks from a developer. LaRocca was essentially handpicked by Musto to be the Democratic nominee for the special election to fill the remaining 1.5 years of the Senate term.[2] In his first bid for elected office, LaRocca defeated independent Libero Marotta, Republican Dennis Teti, and independent Carlos Munoz in a June 23, 1982, special election.[3][4] In the next regular election in 1983, LaRocca and then-Assemblyman Christopher Jackman switched seats where Jackman ran for Senate and LaRocca ran for Assembly. Both won their respective races.[5] After serving alongside Robert Ranieri for one term from the 33rd district, LaRocca did not seek reelection in 1985.[6]

He died on August 30, 1999, aged 85.[7]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference LegHandbooks was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Levine, Richard; Douglas, Carlyle C. (May 23, 1982). "The Region in Summary; Musto Replaced - Not Entirely". The New York Times. Retrieved March 16, 2019.
  3. ^ Sullivan, Joseph F. (July 4, 1982). "Court Ruling May Give Musto Redefined Role". The New York Times. Retrieved March 16, 2019.
  4. ^ "Special elections to fill vacancies in the State Legislature" (PDF). Secretary of State of New Jersey. Retrieved March 16, 2019.
  5. ^ Sullivan, Joseph F. (January 8, 1984). "Changes Afoot In Roles of State And Localities". The New York Times. Retrieved March 16, 2019.
  6. ^ Edge, Wally (June 6, 2007). "The Harvey Smith Club". Observer. Retrieved March 16, 2019.
  7. ^ "Social Security Death Index". Retrieved March 16, 2019 – via Genealogy Bank.