Robert E. Kay

Robert E. Kay
Member of the New Jersey Senate for the 1st district
In office
1968–1971
Preceded byFrank S. Farley
Succeeded byJames Cafiero
Member of the New Jersey General Assembly from Cape May County
In office
1962–1965
Preceded byAnthony J. Volpe
Succeeded byMarvin D. Perskie
In office
1954–1959
Preceded byNathaniel C. Smith
Succeeded byAnthony J. Volpe
Personal details
Born(1916-08-03)August 3, 1916
DiedJanuary 24, 1990(1990-01-24) (aged 73)
PartyRepublican
EducationDuke University
South Jersey Law School
Military service
AllegianceUnited States
Battles/warsWorld War II

Robert E. Kay (August 3, 1916 – January 24, 1990) was an American Republican Party politician who served in the New Jersey State Senate and in the New Jersey General Assembly.

Born in Wildwood, New Jersey, on August 3, 1916, he graduated from Wildwood High School in 1933, Duke University in 1937 and earned a degree in law from the South Jersey Law School (since renamed as Rutgers Law School).[1]

He served in the U.S. Air Force during World War II. Kay was elected to the State Assembly in 1953, representing Cape May County, New Jersey, and was re-elected in 1955 and 1957. He did not seek re-election in 1959, but was again elected in 1963. He was not a candidate for re-election in 1965.[2] Kay was elected State Senator in 1967, narrowly defeating Democrat Robert Halpin by a 51%-49% margin.[3] He did not run for a second term in 1971.

He died on January 24, 1990, at Burdette Tomlin Memorial Hospital (since renamed as Cooper University Hospital Cape Regional)[4]

References

  1. ^ Manual of the Legislature of New Jersey, 1968, p. 353. Accessed September 28, 2025. "Robert E. Kay (Rep., Wildwood) - Mr. Kay was born in Wildwood on August 3, 1916, and received his education at the Wildwood High School, from which he graduated in 1933; Duke University, 1937, and the South Jersey Law School."
  2. ^ Fitzgerald's Legislative Manual of New Jersey. Joseph J. Gribbons. 1972.
  3. ^ "Our Campaigns". Retrieved December 7, 2014.
  4. ^ "Robert E. Kay dies; former state senator", The Central New Jersey Home News, January 26, 1990. Accessed September 28, 2025, via Newspapers.com. "Robert E. Kay, a former assemblyman and senator from Cape May County, has died. He was 73. Kay died Wednesday at Burdette Tomlin Memorial Hospital, said hospital spokeswoman Jenna Doe."