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James Edward McGreeveyFormer politician
Date of Birth: 06.08.1957
Country:  USA |
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Biography of James Edward McGreevey
James Edward McGreevey was an American politician from the Democratic Party. He served as the 52nd Governor of New Jersey from January 15, 2002, until November 15, 2004. However, he resigned before his term ended on January 17, 2006. On August 12, 2004, McGreevey announced his decision to resign and publicly acknowledged his homosexuality. He revealed that he had an extramarital relationship with Golan Cipel, an Israeli citizen and former military officer, whom he had appointed as his advisor on homeland security. Cipel, who had worked for the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs in New York City, returned to Israel when the affair became public. McGreevey was the first and remains the only openly gay governor in the history of the United States.
After stepping down as governor, McGreevey attended the General Theological Seminary in New York and earned a Master of Divinity degree, a necessary requirement to become an Episcopal priest. He currently works on a voluntary basis at the non-profit organization 'Exodus Transitional Community,' which helps former prisoners rehabilitate and adjust to life outside of incarceration. He also serves in the Church of Living Hope in Harlem, New York.
Early Life and Education
James Edward McGreevey was born on August 6, 1957, in Jersey City, New Jersey, to a family of Irish Catholics. He grew up near Carteret, New Jersey, where he attended St. Joseph Elementary School and St. Joseph High School. He graduated from Columbia University in 1978 and had previously attended The Catholic University of America. McGreevey obtained a law degree from Georgetown University Law Center in 1981 and a master's degree in education from Harvard University in 1982. Additionally, he completed a legal program at the London School of Economics.
Personal Life
McGreevey has two daughters. Morag McGreevey is from his first marriage to Karen Joan Schutz, a Canadian, which lasted from 1991 to 1997. His second daughter, Jacqueline McGreevey, was born in his second marriage to Dina Matos McGreevey, who is originally from Portugal. Following his public acknowledgment of his homosexuality, McGreevey and his first lady separated. In late 2005, he began a relationship with Mark O'Donnell, an Australian-American executive. They currently reside in Plainfield, New Jersey.
McGreevey teaches ethics, law, and leadership theory at Kean University in Union, New Jersey. In her memoir, Dina Matos claimed that she would never have married McGreevey if she had known he was gay, as she did not want a gay man to be the father of her child. However, in March 2008, Theodore Pedersen, a former aide to Governor McGreevey, stated that he had engaged in sexual threesomes with McGreevey and his wife from 1999 to 2001, a claim later confirmed by McGreevey himself. Matos denies that such events ever occurred.
In March 2007, it was reported that McGreevey was seeking custody of Jacqueline. Matos requested $600,000 and alimony during their divorce proceedings, which began on May 3, 2008, and concluded in August. The former spouses were awarded joint custody, and McGreevey provides financial support for their child. Matos was denied alimony.
