Former NJ Assemblyman Albert Coutinho, 56, dies in devastating car accident

Former New Jersey Congressman Dies in Car Crash

A former congressman from New Jersey, who had stepped down after being accused of embezzling from his family’s charity, tragically died in a car accident Sunday morning. Albert Coutinho, 56, was involved in a two-vehicle collision on McCarter Highway in Newark around 7:30 a.m. Although he survived the crash initially, he suffered a heart attack on the scene, leading to his untimely death.

Coutinho, a Democrat, was well-respected within the local Portuguese community and was instrumental in organizing the Newark Portugal Day Festival.

He had a brief stint in the New Jersey State Legislature, serving for just over five years. In 2013, he withdrew from seeking re-election after being implicated in defrauding the Bernardino Coutinho Foundation of $32,500, which he cited, along with a recent heart attack, as reasons for his resignation.

The Coutinho family charity has held the Portugal Day festival since it was established in 1980.

Reports indicate that he accepted a three-year suspended plea deal that prevents him from holding any future elected office. However, he received a pardon from Governor Phil Murphy earlier this year.

After leaving politics, Coutinho worked in his family’s bakery and co-founded the Ironbound Soccer Club, where he later became president. He was honored by the New Jersey Soccer Association Hall of Fame in 2021.

The club and its members expressed their admiration for Coutinho, noting, “He always sided with the underdog and consistently uplifted those around him. His legacy will live on in every player, coach, and supporter who wears our shield with pride.”

Family time was particularly important to Coutinho. He frequently attended games of the New Jersey Cosmos with his youngest brother, Billy, and they were sometimes invited to VIP events.

Governor Murphy emphasized Coutinho’s passion for soccer, recalling the excitement of last summer’s FIFA Club World Cup final. He described Coutinho as an “extraordinary man” whose kindness and generosity made a lasting impact.

State Senator Declan O’Scanlon remarked on Coutinho’s contributions, stating that New Jersey lost out when he left Congress.

In a reflective Facebook post from October, Coutinho shared insights about life and mortality, saying, “I learned that death is inevitable…Therefore, memories matter.”