PAUL TOAST, LED JERSEY TURNPIKE

CLIFTON, N.J., July 22—Paul L. Troast, the first chairman of the New Jersey Turnpike Authority and Republican candidate for Governor in 1953, died yesterday in his home 324 Dwasline Road, after an illness of three months. He was 77 years old.

Mr. Troast, who was a leader in the construction industry for many years, had formed the Mahony‐Troast Construction Company with his brotherin‐law Raymond Mahony. Because of his connection with the turnpike, he refused to allow his company to bid for any part of the work from the time the road was opened in 1951.

Born in 1894 in nearby Garfield, Mr. Troast spent his life in developing resources in Passaic and Clifton. In 1908, when he was graduated from Passaic High School, where he had been president of the senior class, he shared much of his time with the vice president of the class, Eleanor Mahony, who later became his wife.

A soft — spoken man who looked every bit the administrator, Mr. Troast concentrated chiefly on his construction business until the 1940's, when he became active in Passaic County Republican politics. In 1946, he was named chairman of the county party's finance committee.

Mr. Troast also had been one of the organizers of the Passaic Valley Water Commission, a water‐supply agency operated jointly by the cities of Paterson, Clifton and Passaic.

His work with the turnpike and the water commission helped build a statewide reputation that led to his nomination by the Republican party as its gubernatorial candidate in 1953.

His wife died in 1965.

Surviving are three sons, Paul L., Jr., John G. and Arthur L.; a daughter, Mrs. Kathleen Pitney; two brothers, Aaron and William; a sister, 19 grandchildren and 7 greatgrandchildren.

There will be a private funeral service Tuesday at the Troast home.