First Woman to Become New Jersey Secretary of State
Jane Grey Burgio was appointed Secretary of State by Governor Thomas Kean and served in New Jersey in that capacity from 1982 to 1990. Ms. Burgio brought all of the cultural agencies of the state under her department. She was instrumental in promoting and expanding the State Council on the Arts and in expanding the grants program of the New Jersey Historical Commission. A republican, she served in the New Jersey Assembly from 1973-1981 representing the 25th District which included portions of Essex, Passaic and Morris Counties.
Ms. Burgio was born in Nutley at 169 Highfield Lane. She was the granddaughter of Abram Blum, the first Mayor of Nutley under the Commission form of government adopted in 1912. She graduated from Nutley High School in 1940 and attended the Display Institute in New York City, the Newark School of Fine and Industrial Arts, Caldwell College, and Essex County College.
She served as a trustee of Rider College, Caldwell College, the New Jersey State Museum, the Friends of the Newark School of Fine and Industrial Arts, ArtPride, the Paper Mill Playhouse, and Morven. She was a member of the New Jersey Performing Arts Center Council of Trustees and the Grover Cleveland Birthplace Association.
Ms. Burgio received honors from Rutgers – the State University of New Jersey, the New Jersey Humane Society, the League of Historical Societies, the American College for Continuing Education, the Chambers of Commerce, the American Labor Museum, and many other professional, commercial, educational and community organizations.