b'A Legend Exits,on her Own TermsMila Jasey set to leave the Legislature to pursue life as a full-time grandmaBY TIA SWANSONI f you have lived in the two towns for anymore like a well-placed friend than a legislator. HerCertainlyJaseyslifeexperienceshaveinformed length of time and have attended any officialpresence has given Maplewood and South Orange aher politics. She likes to tell a story about her mother, or semi-official function, then you likely havesense of connection and a feeling that someone hasfor example: A couple of years after Jaseys father died crossed paths with Mila Jasey. been down in the state capital letting those in chargeon the operating table at age 31, the young widow She is the small, smiling, perky one in theknow what we thought and needed. remarried. Her new husband was controlling. Jaseys blazer, shaking hands, nodding her head andRegardless of the honorifics she deserves, mostmother already had three children, and soon she had listening intently to whomever has requestedrefer to her simply as Mila. four more, one of them with Down syndrome. Her her attention. That might be because she is the type of citizendoctor recommended a tubal ligation. Back then, a Jaseysomnipresenceandhersmilehavemadepolitician dreamed of by the founding fathers. Shewife needed her husbands signature to proceed, and her a respected and beloved state assemblywoman.never planned on being a representative. Indeed, sheJaseys stepfather refused. She gave birth to four more Her chief of staff, Mary Theroux, contends she isgot the seat originally by appointment; her only oth- boys: 11 children in all. And Jasey became a passion-part of the most effective legislative team in the state. er previous political service was on the towns schoolate defender of a womans right to choose.But all the hard work has has taken its toll, andboard for eight years, including two as president. This month, during the lame-duck Assembly ses-Jasey plans to call it quits in January after 16 yearsShe had spent her life in other spheres. She grad- sion, she plans to push to codify the expansion of in Trenton. Its not because she no longer loves theuated from Barnard College with a degree in historyabortion services across the state.work or doesnt believe in its importance but be- and intended to be a teacher. Unable to find a teach- Much of her Assembly work has revolved around cause, she says, I dont have the time or energy toing job, she turned to nursing, taking a two-yeareducation. She chairs the chambers higher educa-do the job as I know it needs to be done. course in Manhattan. tion committee and is vice chair of the education She is 72 now, a grandmother of seven, and herIt was the hardest thing Ive ever done, she says. committee. She also is a longtime member of the 99-year-old mother lives with her and her husbandShe professes to hate hospitals, and she says shejoint committee on public schools.of nearly 50 years. And the job, though classified asdiscovered she did not have the stomach to spendHer school board experience undoubtedly helped part time, demands near constant face time, muchher days in one. She turned to rehabilitation and hadher reach those leadership posts, but she also relies of it at night and on weekends. a long, successful career in that field, although it of- on what she learned as a mother and grandmother.The loss is sure to be felt deeply in the two towns.ten was interrupted by motherhood responsibilitiesHer daughter, Rhena Jasey-Goodman, became a A resident of South Orange for 47 years, Jasey isaggravated by the lack of child care. teacher, first at Seth Boyden School in Maplewood 26/ matters magazine / holiday 2023'