John Herbert Adler (August 23, 1959April 4, 2011) was an American lawyer, politician and a member of the Democratic Party who served for one term as the U.S. representative for from 2009 until 2011. He lost his 2010 congressional election to former Philadelphia Eagles football player Jon Runyan. Prior to joining Congress, Adler was a member of the New Jersey Senate from 1992 to 2009, where he represented the 6th Legislative District. Only a few months after leaving the House, Adler unexpectedly died after suffering from endocarditis as a result of getting a staph infection. In 2012, his widow Shelley announced her candidacy for the seat, but she ended up losing to Runyan. Early life and education Adler was born in Philadelphia, the son of Mary Louise (née Beatty) and John Herbert Adler. His ancestry included German (including Bavarian), English, and Irish. He moved to Haddonfield, New Jersey when he was two years old. His father owned a small dry cleaning store. When Adler was in high school, his father died after a series of heart attacks. Adler and his mother lost the family business, and survived off his father's Social Security benefits for widows and minors. He attended Haddonfield Memorial High School. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in government from Harvard College and a Juris Doctor from Harvard Law School. He paid for law school through student loans, grants, and working odd jobs throughout college. Early political career From 1988 until 1989, Adler served on the Cherry Hill Township Council. While serving on the council, Adler passed the township's ethics ordinance. In 1990, Adler challenged incumbent Jim Saxton for his seat in New Jersey's 3rd Congressional District. Adler was defeated by Saxton by a margin of 60% to 40%. New Jersey State Senate Adler was elected in 1991 to the New Jersey Senate, where he served from 1992 until his inauguration into the U.S. House of Representatives in 2009. While in the Senate, Adler served on the Judiciary Committee (as Chair) and the Environment Committee. He served on the New Jersey Israel Commission since 1995, and on the New Jersey Intergovernmental Relations Commission from 1994 to 2002. Legislation Adler was co-sponsor of the New Jersey Smoke-Free Air Act, enacted in 2006, which banned smoking in almost all public places. Adler was one of three co-sponsors of a Senate bill submitted in 2008 that would extend the smoking