Cooper Health System CEO, Wife Die in House Fire in Somerset County

Detectives are investigating the death of Cooper Health System CEO John Sheridan and his wife Joyce in an early morning fire on Sunday in Somerset County, the Courier Post reports.

The fire occurred at their home. John Sheridan, 72, was pronounced dead on the scene, and Joyce Sheridan, 69, died at Princeton Medical Center shortly thereafter.

A post mortem examination has been scheduled to determine the cause of death, according to the Courier Post.

“My deepest condolences go out to John and Joyce Sheridan’s family in this time of their terrible loss. John represented the very best of South Jersey,” State Sen. Donald Norcross said in a statement issued Sunday night. “As the CEO of Cooper Hospital, he was a fierce advocate for health care and the City of Camden. Just last week, he was discussing his vision to improve the quality of life for city residents. We all have been dealt a serious blow.”

“The Freeholder Board is saddened to learn about the tragic passing of John and Joyce Sheridan last night,” Camden County Freeholder Director Louis Cappelli Jr. said in a statement on behalf of the Camde County Freeholder Board. “He was a leader for the largest employer in Camden County and he was a tireless advocate for Camden City. John was larger than life and served our community with a grace and dignity that could not be matched. He was a man of integrity and intelligence who cared deeply about the community. The Freeholder Board sends our deepest condolences to the Sheridan family on this tragic loss of John and Joyce.”

John Sheridan is credited with helping to revive Camden and transforming the health care system, according to the Courier Post.

Before joining Cooper, John Sheridan spent 40 years in politics, including positions Gov. Thomas Kean’s cabinet and on transitional teams for Chris Christie and Christie Todd Whitman, according to nj.com.

He was also on the Board of Trustees the New Jersey Council of Teaching Hospitals and the Ronald McDonald House of Southern New Jersey, among others, according to nj.com.

He became Senior Executive Vice President of Cooper in 2005, according to philly.com. He became President and CEO in 2008.

John Sheridan is an alumnus of St. Peter’s College and Rutgers Law School. He served in the U.S. Army from 1968-70, according to NBC Philadelphia.