Madelyn Ann Geisser Rumowicz, age 92 years, of Hillsborough, NJ, died peacefully on Tuesday, April 30, 2024, at Avalon Memory Care, Hillsborough Township, NJ, after a prolonged illness.

She was born on December 14, 1931, in East Providence, RI, to the late George and Madelyn Geisser.

Madelyn was a woman of many accomplishments. In the 1970’s after raising six children, she would redirect her life towards the political arena. Always active in local politics, she served as the President of the League of Women Voters in Franklin Township, NJ. She was also a prominent figure of the local zoning board that led her to pursue her masters degree from Rutgers University in Planning and Zoning. After graduating, Madelyn was hired as an aide to New Brunswick Representative Bill Hamilton. When he was later elected Speaker of the House of the New Jersey House of Representatives, he appointed her to the post of Assistant to the Speaker. She was the first woman ever appointed to this high-profile political position.

Her public service career spanned decades, including her role as Executive Director of Capitol Budget and Planning under New Jersey Governor Brendan Byrne. She worked for several New Jersey governors including Brendan Byrne, Jim Florio, and James McGreevey. Madelyn’s last appointment for New Jersey was as Deputy Commissioner for the New Jersey Department of Transportation.

Upon retirement, she indulged in traveling and visited almost every continent in the world. As an avid reader, she favored espionage thrillers and biographical novels. She passed her love of reading on to all six of her children. Also loving the ocean, Madelyn had a special fondness for Rhode Island beaches. Although living in many states throughout her life, Madelyn always considered herself a Rhode Islander at heart.

While her professional successes were many, her greatest achievement was serving as the matriarch to her large family of six beloved children, many grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Madelyn was married to the late Edmund S. Rumowicz. She is survived by her children; Ann Henning, Mary Strickland, Ed Rumowicz Jr, Gregory Rumowicz, Carolyn Fernandez, and Raymond Rumowicz; as well as thirteen grandchildren and seven great grandchildren.

As we bid farewell to this remarkable woman, let us celebrate her life—one dedicated to service, family, and friendship. Madelyn Ann Geisser Rumowicz will be remembered as a trailblazer, a loving mother, and a friend to all.

Friends and family are invited to gather together to celebrate Madelyn’s life on Sunday, May 19, 2024, from 11:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m., at Wright & Ford Family Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 38 State Highway 31, Flemington, NJ.

A Life Celebration service will follow the gathering at 12:30 p.m. at the funeral home, and all are invited to bring heartfelt memories to share. If you are unable to attend but would like something read on your behalf, please click HERE to generate an email to the funeral home.

You are encouraged to visit Madelyn’s permanent life celebration site at www.wrightfamily.com to light a candle of hope, leave messages of condolence, share words of comfort and recollection, and post photographs of her life.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to a charity close to your heart in Madelyn’s honor. May her memory continue to inspire us all.

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Wright & Ford, your local, family owned & operated “Life Celebration Home”

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