First Female Freeholder 1934 — June 2018
Grace A. Gurisic, 84, of West
Milford died at Chilton Memorial Hospital, Pompton Plains, on June 9.
She was born in Rocky Hill to Louis and Margaret Gurisic. Grace was a public servant of boundless energy. She graduated from Princeton High School and Rider College, where she majored in business administration.
She was first elected to public office in her hometown of Rocky Hill at the age of 22. She served two years on Rocky Hill Borough Council, then became the mayor of the borough —the youngest woman mayor in the United States at the age of 24.
In 1959, voters elected her as the first woman to sit on the Somerset County Board of Chosen Freeholders, on which she served from 1960 to 1965.
Grace worked for the state in the NJ Conservation Economic Development Department. She then became special assistant to Congressman Robert A. Roe, New Jersey 8th Congressional District, from 1960 to 1993.
Grace belonged to many organizations throughout the years and received numerous awards for her dedicated service.
Everyone who knew her, loved the beautiful person she was inside and out. She will be sorely missed by all.
Grace is survived by nine nieces and nephews, and a sister-in-law. She was predeceased by her siblings: Gertrude Tennyson, Margaret Voorhees, and George Gurisic.
Funeral Services were held on July 12 at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, in Wayne. Burial followed at the Rocky Hill Cemetery in Rocky Hill.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Grace’s name to St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 17 Pompton Avenue, Pompton Lakes, NJ 07442 or the West Milford Rescue Squad, 1480 Union Valley Rd, West Milford, NJ 07480.
