Cranford Native/Kean Student Attends State Of Union

CRANFORD, NJ — Kean University freshman and Cranford High School alumna Hailey Seals recently attended the State of the Union address two months after her father, a Jersey City police officer, was killed in the line of duty during an anti-Semitic attack.

Seals and her mother, Laura Schechter, traveled from Cranford to Washington, D.C. at the invitation of U.S. Rep. Thomas Malinowski.

“It was a little overwhelming,” said Seals, an elementary education major. “But it was a great experience.”

Seals’ father, Detective Joseph Seals, was fatally shot when he confronted two suspects in Jersey City in December as part of an investigation. They went on to commit an anti-Semitic and anti-police shooting spree that resulted in five more deaths.

“I want to thank her for her commitment to her father’s legacy and for joining us in honoring him,” Rep. Malinowski said in a speech on the House floor.

Malinowski and New Jersey Sen. Corey Booker created a video with Seals that they sent to her choir director, Mark Terenzi, D. Mus., to excuse her for the day. Hailey Seals is a member of the choir at Kean, and also plays tennis at the school.

The Kean Choir has been preparing a song tribute to her dad, which will be performed in upcoming concerts. Terenzi suggested the song, The Seal Lullaby, by composer Eric Whitacre for the tribute.

“It is perfect,” Seals said. “It’s such a beautiful song, I can’t even begin to explain. I thought it was perfect because the last name fit. The first few times we sang it, I had to leave the room.”

Seals, the oldest of six children, said she has received warm support from the community in and around Kean since her father’s death, particularly from members of the choir. She said they were the first to speak with her after she learned of the shooting in December. She had been on her way to class.

“They helped me," she said. "They’re all so supportive and caring. They’re my closest friends here. It’s like a family.”

Terenzi said performing the song will be the choir’s way of honoring Det. Seals as well as his daughter and her courage.

“We stand in such strong support,” he said. “She is a wonderful young lady, and we are happy to be able to share this tribute.”

A press release on Seals' visit to the nation's capital noted that she sat two rows behind First Lady Melania Trump, whom she said was “a very sweet lady.” Seals and her mother toured the Capitol and also visited the offices of Malinowski and Booker.

“Cory Booker is a character,” she said. “He’s a really nice guy.”