Andrew K. Ruotolo

Andrew K. Ruotolo
Ruotolo Campaign Button from 1985
Union County Prosecutor
In office 1992–1995
Preceded by	John H. Stamler
Succeeded by	Edward M. Neafsey (Acting)
Personal details
Born	November 5, 1952
Died	September 21, 1995 (aged 42) Westfield, New Jersey
Spouse(s)	Mary Picaro
Relations	Dr. Joseph W. Vollmerhausen (Step-Father)
Children	Lyndsay, Andrew and Jayne
Religion	Roman Catholic

Andrew K. (Drew) Ruotolo Jr. (November 5, 1952 – September 21, 1995) was an American law enforcement official who served as the Union County Prosecutor. He was the Democratic nominee for the New Jersey State Assembly in 1985.

At Westfield High School, he was named to the All-American Swimming Team.^[1] He was a 1974 graduate of Amherst College and a 1978 graduate of Fordham University Law School. He served as an Assistant United States Attorney for the District of New Jersey from 1981 to 1984, where he worked in the Criminal Division.

In 1985, he was the Democratic candidate for the New Jersey State Assembly in the Union County-based 21st district, losing to incumbent Republican Assemblymen Chuck Hardwick and Peter J. Genova by more than 14,000 votes.^[2]

Governor Jim Florio appointed him to serve as Prosecutor in 1991, following the death of John H. Stamler. As Prosecutor, he created a special task force to combat auto theft. Under Ruotolo's leadership, car theft dropped by 20%. He created the Union County Human Relations Commission to combat bias and hate crimes, and established his office's first full-time Domestic Violence Unit and the Union County Child Advocacy Center.^[3] He died of cancer of the esophagus while in office.

The New Jersey County Prosecutor's Association has created the Andrew K. Ruotolo, Jr. Memorial Scholarship, a need-based scholarship for students admitted to law school.^[4]

His widow, Mary P. Ruotolo, served as a Union County Freeholder from 1998 to 2004.^[5] He had three children with his wife Mary: Lyndsay, Andrew and Jayne.

References

1. Colligan, Kevin (28 September 1995). "'He Was Our Youth'" (PDF). The Westfield Record. Retrieved 30 November 2014.
2. "Our Campaigns". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved 30 November 2014.
3. "Andrew Ruotolo, 42, A County Prosecutor". New York Times. 22 September 1995.
4. "THE COUNTY PROSECUTORS ASSOCIATION OF NEW JERSEY FOUNDATION". http://www.law.harvard.edu/current/sfs/myaid/outside-scholarships/pdfs/andrew-ruotolo-2013.pdf. External link in |publisher= (help);
5. "Mary Ruotolo Will Not Seek Third Term as Freeholder" (PDF). The Westfield Leader. 4 March 2004. Retrieved 30 November 2014.