Former N.J. governors gather to mourn Cooper Health CEO, wife

New Jersey government leaders, family members, and friends attended a memorial service Tuesday for a longtime political figure and his wife.

John Sheridan and his wife, Joyce, died after their Montgomery Township home burned in a Sept. 28 fire that’s been ruled arson.

Sheridan, the president and CEO of the Camden-based Cooper University Health Care, previously worked for several governors. He led the state Department of Transportation for Tom Kean and served on Christie Whitman’s transition team.

Joyce Sheridan was a teacher.

Former Gov. Don DiFrancesco said John Sheridan was a fantastic person.

“He did a lot for New Jersey, I mean the Transportation Trust Fund really was his idea. He just has a phenomenal legacy, a terrific family man. Everybody loved him. Everyone loved him,” DiFrancesco said. “There wasn’t anybody who could say a bad word about him, and it’s just a great loss for New Jersey.”

Sheridan was special, said former Gov. Christie Todd Whitman.

“He was one of those public servants in the best sense of the word because he loved the state. You know, he was a Republican, but he never served for Republicans, he served for the people,” Whitman said.

Sheridan has been credited with being an integral part in efforts to revitalize Camden. He was also remembered as part of a remarkable team.

“He was a supporter of mine from the very beginning, someone that I would turn to for sage counsel and advice,” Whitman said. “And she was great because she didn’t take politics nearly as seriously as some of us who were involved in it did. So she was a good stabilizing effect, and they were a team, and it’s just a tragedy.”

Authorities continue an investigation of the fire.