Matthew J. Rinaldo

Matthew John "Matt" Rinaldo (September 1, 1931 – October 13, 2008) was an American Republican Party politician who represented New Jersey in the United States House of Representatives for ten terms, serving in the 12th congressional district (1973–1983) and in the 7th congressional district (1983–1993).

Matthew J. Rinaldo
Rinaldo in 1981
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New Jersey
In office January 3, 1973 – January 3, 1993
Preceded by	Florence P. Dwyer
Succeeded by	Bob Franks
Constituency	12th district (1973–1983) 7th district (1983–1993)
Member of the New Jersey Senate from the 9th (at-large) district
In office January 9, 1968 – January 3, 1973
Preceded by	Mildred Barry Hughes Nelson Stamler
Succeeded by	William J. McCloud
Personal details
Born	Matthew John Rinaldo (1931-09-01)September 1, 1931 Elizabeth, New Jersey, U.S.
Died	October 13, 2008(2008-10-13) (aged 77) West Caldwell, New Jersey, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Alma mater	Rutgers University (BS) Seton Hall University (MBA) New York University (DPA)

Early life and education

Born in Elizabeth, New Jersey, Rinaldo graduated from St. Benedict’s Prep in Newark, N.J. in 1949, then went on to receive a B.S. from Rutgers University (1953), an M.B.A., Seton Hall University (1959) and a D.P.A., from New York University, Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service (1979).

Political career

He was elected to the Union Township Zoning Board of Adjustment, serving from 1962 to 1963, the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders (1963–1964), and the New Jersey Senate (1967–1972).

Congress

Rinaldo was elected as a Republican to the 93rd and to the nine succeeding U.S. Congresses (January 3, 1973 – January 3, 1993). Representative Rinaldo sat on the House Permanent Committee on Select Aging, as Minority Leader of the Committee, and the House Committee for Energy and Commerce.

Prior to his retirement, Rinaldo listed among his top accomplishments a bill to limit the airing of commercials during children's programming and securing public access to pollution data under the Superfund law.^[1]

Death

He died on October 13, 2008, from complications related to Parkinson's disease after several years of poor health.^[2]