Jim Florio Memorial Set For Monday At Camden County College's Blackwood Campus

BLACKWOOD, NJ — A memorial service for former New Jersey Governor James "Jim" Florio is set for Monday afternoon at Camden County College's Blackwood campus.

Florio, who died Monday at the age of 85, went to Rutgers Law School in Camden and worked for the city's legal department before representing South Jersey in state and local politics for 20 years. He was governor from 1990-94. Read more: Former NJ Governor Jim Florio Dies At 85

The celebration of life is Monday, Oct. 3 at 2 p.m. at the Dennis Flyer Theater at Lincoln Hall (200 College Drive, Blackwood NJ 08012). It is the only public memorial service that has been announced for the former governor so far.

All residents are invited, Camden County government officials said. The county is asking guests to RSVP online.

It will be live streamed for those who cannot attend in person. Messages of condolence can be sent to Robb Sewell at rcsewell@ejb.rutgers.edu.

In attendance will be Florio's family, all living New Jersey governors, members of the New Jersey legislature and congressional caucus, former U.S. Senator Bill Bradley (D), local officials from around the state, and his friends and relatives, the county said.

Florio began his career in the U.S. Navy in 1955 and stayed with the Naval Reserves until 1975, finishing his service with the rank of lieutenant commander. He went on to graduate from Trenton State College – now the College of New Jersey – and won a Woodrow Wilson Fellowship to attend Columbia University. He graduated from Rutgers Law School - Camden in 1967 with a law degree.

The former serviceman took jobs with the City of Camden Legal Department as solicitor for Runnemede, Wood-Lynne and Somerdale before he won a New Jersey State Assembly seat in South Jersey in 1969, serving fifteen years as a congressman over eight terms before serving as governor of the state from 1990 to 1994.

Patch's Nicole Rosenthal contributed to this report.