Former New Jersey Assemblyman Albert Coutinho was killed in a car crash on Sunday morning.
Coutinho, 56, died from a heart attack after his car collided with another just before 7.30am in Newark.
The Portuguese-American Democrat went into cardiac arrest at the scene, before he died just after 8am at University Hospital, according to the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office.
The other driver was transported to hospital with non-life threatening injuries, the prosecutor’s office said.
Police are continuing to investigate the cause of the fatal crash, ABC 7 reported.
Coutinho served in the New Jersey General Assembly for more than five years, and began in May 1997 before he was later elected to a full term in the Assembly in November 2007, NJ.com reported.
He resigned in 2013 after he pleaded guilty to theft from his family’s charity and falsifying records by failing to report the money he took as income on legislative financial disclosure forms, according to the outlet.
His plea required he would never hold office or a public job in the state again.
Former New Jersey Assemblyman Albert Coutinho, 56, died from a heart attack after his car collided with another just before 7.30am on Sunday in Newark, NJ
The Portuguese-American Democrat, seen with his brother and niece, went into cardiac arrest at the scene, before he died just after 8am at University Hospital
Coutinho’s mother, Mariazinha seen with Coutinho, said: ‘My dear love, my son Albert. Forever in my heart…My heart is broken and I cannot find the right words to express my pain’
Coutinho was handed probation instead of six and a half years behind bars – the maximum sentence.
He resigned in September 2013 before his guilty plea, noting a heart attack he had faced in June of that year.
Coutinho’s mother, Mariazinha, remembered him in a post on Facebook.
‘My dear love, my son Albert. Forever in my heart…My heart is broken and I cannot find the right words to express my pain. Rest in eternal peace,’ she wrote.
Former Governor Phil Murphy and his wife, Tammy, also released a statement.
‘Al was an extraordinary person whose generosity, kindness and commitment to other left a lasting impact on everyone who knew him,’ the statement read.
Murphy had pardoned Coutinho before he left office in January. The pair said they were heartbroken to hear of his death.
‘His passion for soccer was matched only by his dedication to his family, friends and the Portuguese-American community of New Jersey,’ they added.
Michael Silva, a Newark councilman, wrote on Facebook: ‘Today, we lost not just a man, but a presence that cannot be replaced.’
‘Albert was more than a friend… more than a mentor. He was a rare soul – someone who carried clarity where there was doubt, strength where there was uncertainty, and light where others saw only darkness.’
Michael Silva, a Newark councilman seen above with Coutinho, said: ‘Today, we lost not just a man, but a presence that cannot be replaced’
According to his obituary , Coutinho ‘lived and breathed’ soccer for his whole life and went ‘above and beyond in all that he did’
Coutinho served in the New Jersey General Assembly for more than five years, and began in May 1997 before he was later elected to a full term in the Assembly in November 2007
‘He had a mind that could navigate the most complex challenges with grace, always guided by purpose, integrity and unwavering belief that every obstacle carried within it the seed of a solution,’ Silva continued.
‘But beyond his brilliance, it was his heart that defined him—his ability to listen, to guide, to uplift, and to quietly push those around him to become more than they ever thought possible.’
Silva added that he would ‘carry the moments’ they shared, and said: ‘He will live on in our memories, in our actions, in every moment we choose to lead with strength, wisdom and kindness – just as he taught us.’
One tribute on Facebook said: ‘Al truly loved Newark, especially his beloved Ironbound neighborhood.’
‘He was always supportive of local businesses and the residents who called it home. He looked forward every year to the Newark Portugal Day Festival with great joy and energy,’ the post continued.
‘He was a genuinely good man, kind, respectful, and always happy to talk about the Ironbound and its community…You will be deeply missed, Al, especially during this year’s Portugal Day Festival.’
Assemblywoman Eliana Pintor Marin wrote on Facebook that Coutinho was ‘not only a dear friend, but family to me.’
‘Albert embodied what it means to live a life of service. He was a mentor to many, a trusted voice, and someone who uplifted those around him without ever seeking recognition. His ability to connect, guide, and bring people together was a gift that left a lasting imprint on all who knew him,’ she said.
Coutinho was described as ‘the glue of the Coutinho family and a support system to all lucky enough to know him’
Reginald Bledsoe, director of the Essex County Office of LGBTQ+ Affairs, said: ‘You’re going to be deeply missed, my friend’
‘He gave so much of himself to others, and his legacy will live on through the countless lives he shaped and inspired. I will always hold close the memories we shared and the example he set…He will be profoundly missed, always remembered, and forever carried in our hearts. May he rest in peace.’
Mayor Ras J Baraka said in a statement that Coutinho ‘fought for job creation, recreational space and workforce reentry reforms, all of which helped strengthen our city.’
‘But more than that, Al was a central pillar of our Portuguese community, the Ironbound and the city at large,’ he continued. ‘As an avid soccer fan, he prioritized his role as a soccer coach for our youth.
‘The annual Portuguese Day Festival, so sensational that it is known nationally, was established by his family and overseen enthusiastically by Al every year. Surely, the upcoming Portuguese Festival, and FIFA games will not be the same without this beloved community giant.’
‘On behalf of all the people of Newark, I send my heartfelt condolences to his family, our Ironbound neighbors and all who have been touched by the generous spirit of this remarkable man.’
New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherill wrote on Facebook: ‘My heart goes out to the family of former Assemblyman Albert Coutinho and the Newark community he [was] so deeply loved. We will be forever thankful for his years of dedicated public service and the lasting impact he made on New Jersey.’
Reginald Bledsoe, director of the Essex County Office of LGBTQ+ Affairs, said that Coutinho had welcomed him onto the Assembly floor with kindness and made him feel ‘seen and valued.’
‘You’re going to be deeply missed, my friend,’ he wrote in a post. ‘I’m sending my heartfelt condolences to his family, friends and our Ironbound community.’
Coutinho resigned in 2013 after he plead guilty to theft from his family’s charity and falsifying records by failing to report the money he took as income on legislative financial disclosure forms
Coutinho is survived by his partner, Carolyn Dembowski, his mother, Maria, and his siblings, Billy and Helena, as well as his brother-in-law, godchild and niece
David Caetano, a local Ironbound Strikers soccer club member, recalled meeting Coutinho when he was eight years old and said: ‘As I grew older, Albert introduced me to state and local government and its inner workings. He had a brilliant mind. I used to call him “the encyclopedia.”’
‘More than anything, Al believed in people. He took the time to mentor, encourage, and challenge others to be better, always seeing potential even when they didn’t see it themselves. He always focused on positive energy and bringing people together to make good things happen,’ Caetano continued.
‘His impact on me, my family, and this community will last forever. He will be deeply missed and never forgotten.’
A vigil for Coutinho was set for Monday at 6.30pm held by the Ironbound Soccer Club at Eddie Moraes Ironbound Stadium, according to Coutinho’s brother-in-law Donald Goncalves.
Coutinho’s funeral is set for April 1 at 10am at the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Newark.
According to his obituary, Coutinho ‘lived and breathed’ soccer for his whole life and went ‘above and beyond in all that he did.’
‘He was the glue of the Coutinho family and a support system to all lucky enough to know him. He shared an incredibly special and unbreakable bond with his brother Billy.’
Coutinho is survived by his partner, Carolyn Dembowski, his mother, Maria, and his siblings, Billy and Helena, as well as his brother-in-law, godchild and niece.
