D. Bennett Mazur
Encyclopedia
David Bennett Mazur was an American
Democratic Party politician, who was elected to serve six terms in the New Jersey General Assembly
, where he represented the 37th Legislative District
from 1982 until he was forced to resign in 1992 following a stroke
. Mazur also spent two decades as a professor at Ramapo College
.
Born in New York City
, Mazur served in the United States Army
in Europe during World War II
, where he earned a Bronze Star Medal
as an infantryman, in addition to three Purple Heart
s. He earned his undergraduate degree with a major in economics from Lafayette College
, earned a Masters of Business Administration from Fairleigh Dickinson University
with a major in economics and finance and was awarded a Ph.D. Rutgers University
in urban planning
and public policy formation. Mazur married the former Betty Greene of the Bronx on September 3, 1951. At the time, Mazur was employed by the New York Daily Mirror
. Mazur was a longtime professor at Ramapo College in Mahwah, New Jersey
, where he taught planning and public administration
.
Mazur moved to Fort Lee, New Jersey
after completing his military service, where he became a tenant activist. He was first elected to the Bergen County
Board of Chosen Freeholders
in 1964, serving in office from 1965 to 1967 and again from 1975 to 1980. In 1966, Mayor of New York City
John Lindsay
named Mazur to serve on the Metropolitan Regional Council, where he was chosen to head the organization's committee on the future of the Tri-State region. As Freeholder in 1977, Mazur led efforts to save the Campbell-Christie House
, an historic home that had been slated for demolition. With a $150,000 grant, the 200-year-old home was moved two miles from New Milford
to a site at New Bridge Landing
in River Edge
.
He was elected to the Assembly in 1981, where legislation he proposed in 1994 banned the use of leg hold traps by hunters, created the state's 911 system and banned discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. He served on the Hudson River Waterfront Planning and Study Commission, the New Jersey Railroad and Transportation Study Commission and the Tri-State Regional Planning Commission.
Mazur was elected to serve a sixth term in office in November 1991, but was forced to resign on February 24, 1992 due to a stroke he suffered on Election Day. Loretta Weinberg
was chosen by Democratic committee members in March 1992 to fill the seat he vacated in the Assembly and was sworn into office in later that month.
Mazur died at age 69 on October 11, 1994, at Holy Name Hospital in Teaneck, New Jersey
due to complications of the stroke he had earlier suffered. He was survived by his wife, the former Betty Greene, as well as by two daughters, two sons and a grandson.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Democratic Party politician, who was elected to serve six terms in the New Jersey General Assembly
New Jersey General Assembly
The New Jersey General Assembly is the lower house of the New Jersey Legislature.Since the election of 1967 , the Assembly has consisted of 80 members. Two members are elected from each of New Jersey's 40 legislative districts for a term of two years, each representing districts with average...
, where he represented the 37th Legislative District
37th Legislative District (New Jersey)
New Jersey's 37th Legislative District is one of 40 in the state, covering the Bergen County municipalities of Bergenfield, Bogota, Englewood, Englewood Cliffs, Hackensack, Leonia, Maywood, Palisades Park, Ridgefield Park, Rochelle Park, Teaneck and Tenafly...
from 1982 until he was forced to resign in 1992 following a stroke
Stroke
A stroke, previously known medically as a cerebrovascular accident , is the rapidly developing loss of brain function due to disturbance in the blood supply to the brain. This can be due to ischemia caused by blockage , or a hemorrhage...
. Mazur also spent two decades as a professor at Ramapo College
Ramapo College
Ramapo College of New Jersey is a public liberal arts and professional studies institution of the New Jersey system of higher education.- Location :...
.
Born in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, Mazur served in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
in Europe during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, where he earned a Bronze Star Medal
Bronze Star Medal
The Bronze Star Medal is a United States Armed Forces individual military decoration that may be awarded for bravery, acts of merit, or meritorious service. As a medal it is awarded for merit, and with the "V" for valor device it is awarded for heroism. It is the fourth-highest combat award of the...
as an infantryman, in addition to three Purple Heart
Purple Heart
The Purple Heart is a United States military decoration awarded in the name of the President to those who have been wounded or killed while serving on or after April 5, 1917 with the U.S. military. The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor is located in New Windsor, New York...
s. He earned his undergraduate degree with a major in economics from Lafayette College
Lafayette College
Lafayette College is a private coeducational liberal arts and engineering college located in Easton, Pennsylvania, USA. The school, founded in 1826 by James Madison Porter,son of General Andrew Porter of Norristown and citizens of Easton, first began holding classes in 1832...
, earned a Masters of Business Administration from Fairleigh Dickinson University
Fairleigh Dickinson University
Fairleigh Dickinson University is a private university founded as a junior college in 1942. It now has several campuses located in New Jersey, Canada, and the United Kingdom.-Description:...
with a major in economics and finance and was awarded a Ph.D. Rutgers University
Rutgers University
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey , is the largest institution for higher education in New Jersey, United States. It was originally chartered as Queen's College in 1766. It is the eighth-oldest college in the United States and one of the nine Colonial colleges founded before the American...
in urban planning
Urban planning
Urban planning incorporates areas such as economics, design, ecology, sociology, geography, law, political science, and statistics to guide and ensure the orderly development of settlements and communities....
and public policy formation. Mazur married the former Betty Greene of the Bronx on September 3, 1951. At the time, Mazur was employed by the New York Daily Mirror
New York Daily Mirror
The New York Daily Mirror was an American morning tabloid newspaper first published on June 24, 1924, in New York City by the William Randolph Hearst organization as a contrast to their mainstream broadsheets, the Evening Journal and New York American, later consolidated into the New York Journal...
. Mazur was a longtime professor at Ramapo College in Mahwah, New Jersey
Mahwah, New Jersey
Mahwah is a township in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 25,890. The name Mahwah is derived from the Lenni Lenape word "mawewi" which means "Meeting Place" or "Place Where Paths Meet".The area that is now Mahwah was...
, where he taught planning and public administration
Public administration
Public Administration houses the implementation of government policy and an academic discipline that studies this implementation and that prepares civil servants for this work. As a "field of inquiry with a diverse scope" its "fundamental goal.....
.
Mazur moved to Fort Lee, New Jersey
Fort Lee, New Jersey
Fort Lee is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 35,345. Located atop the Hudson Palisades, the borough is the western terminus of the George Washington Bridge...
after completing his military service, where he became a tenant activist. He was first elected to the Bergen County
Bergen County, New Jersey
Bergen County is the most populous county of the state of New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, its population was 905,116. The county is part of the New York City Metropolitan Area. Its county seat is Hackensack...
Board of Chosen Freeholders
Board of Chosen Freeholders
In New Jersey, the Boards of Chosen Freeholders are the county legislatures in each of that state's 21 counties.- Origin :New Jersey's system of naming county legislators "freeholders" is unique in the United States...
in 1964, serving in office from 1965 to 1967 and again from 1975 to 1980. In 1966, Mayor of New York City
Mayor of New York City
The Mayor of the City of New York is head of the executive branch of New York City's government. The mayor's office administers all city services, public property, police and fire protection, most public agencies, and enforces all city and state laws within New York City.The budget overseen by the...
John Lindsay
John Lindsay
John Vliet Lindsay was an American politician, lawyer and broadcaster who was a U.S. Congressman, Mayor of New York City, candidate for U.S...
named Mazur to serve on the Metropolitan Regional Council, where he was chosen to head the organization's committee on the future of the Tri-State region. As Freeholder in 1977, Mazur led efforts to save the Campbell-Christie House
Campbell-Christie House
The Campbell-Christie House is a historic home that has been relocated to New Bridge Landing in River Edge, New Jersey.-History:Jacob Campbell, a stonemason, constructed a store southeast of the intersection of River Road and the highway leading from Old Bridge to South Church, now Henley Avenue,...
, an historic home that had been slated for demolition. With a $150,000 grant, the 200-year-old home was moved two miles from New Milford
New Milford, New Jersey
New Milford is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 16,341.New Milford was incorporated as a borough on March 11, 1922, from what remained of Palisades Township, based on the results of a referendum held on April 18,...
to a site at New Bridge Landing
New Bridge Landing
New Bridge was a prosperous mill hamlet, centered upon a bridge strategically placed at the narrows of the Hackensack River. In the American Revolution New Bridge Landing was the site of a pivotal bridge crossing the Hackensack River, where General George Washington led his troops in retreat from...
in River Edge
River Edge, New Jersey
River Edge is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 11,340.The community was incorporated as the borough of Riverside by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on June 30, 1894, from portions of Midland Township, at the...
.
He was elected to the Assembly in 1981, where legislation he proposed in 1994 banned the use of leg hold traps by hunters, created the state's 911 system and banned discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. He served on the Hudson River Waterfront Planning and Study Commission, the New Jersey Railroad and Transportation Study Commission and the Tri-State Regional Planning Commission.
Mazur was elected to serve a sixth term in office in November 1991, but was forced to resign on February 24, 1992 due to a stroke he suffered on Election Day. Loretta Weinberg
Loretta Weinberg
Loretta Weinberg is an American Democratic Party politician, who has served as a member of the New Jersey Senate since 2005, where she represents the 37th Legislative District...
was chosen by Democratic committee members in March 1992 to fill the seat he vacated in the Assembly and was sworn into office in later that month.
Mazur died at age 69 on October 11, 1994, at Holy Name Hospital in Teaneck, New Jersey
Teaneck, New Jersey
Teaneck is a township in Bergen County, New Jersey, and a suburb in the New York metropolitan area. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 39,776, making it the second-most populous among the 70 municipalities in Bergen County....
due to complications of the stroke he had earlier suffered. He was survived by his wife, the former Betty Greene, as well as by two daughters, two sons and a grandson.