The upcoming inductees to the New Jersey Hall of Fame (NJHOF) reads like a who’s who in amazing accomplishments. So many great minds and unique talents have roots in the Greater Meadowlands Region and across the Garden State.
The 18 inductees were chosen from 50 nominees after a public vote and join more than 230 luminaries inducted since the first class was named in 2008.
Among the inductees is three-time Oscar winner Meryl Streep, who spent her teenage years in Bernardsville and earlier years in Basking Ridge. Streep was nominated for an Oscar 21 times, a record that still stands.
In the Meadowlands region, Passaic native and Emmy-nominated actor Paul Rudd is being inducted, along with former NY Giants Quarterback Phil Simms, Audible founder Donald Katz from Newark, and Father Edwin D. Leahy, also from Newark.
The Inductees will be honored at the 16th Annual New Jersey Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony. This year’s ceremony will be a pre-taped television special on location at the 10,000-square-foot New Jersey Hall of Fame at American Dream and other Hall of Fame satellite exhibits.
The ceremony will be aired beginning Nov. 13 on Fox 5 My9 and social media. There will be dozens of inductee events open to the public throughout starting sometime this summer.
“The 2024 class of Inductees of the New Jersey Hall of Fame illustrate the New Jersey ethic of hard work, determination, and grit,” said Jon F. Hanson, Chairman of the NJHOF. “We are thrilled to celebrate the contributions of 18 new Inductees so future generations can learn about their journeys.”
The New Jersey Hall of Fame Class of 2024 is:
Arts & Letters
- Gay Talese, Ocean City
Author-journalist
Education & Science|
- Elizabeth Coleman White, Whitesbog
Being honored posthumously.
Botanist who developed the nation’s first cultivated blueberry. - John Forbes Nash, Princeton
Being honored posthumously. He was also a previous inductee, but is being formally inducted this year.
Genius mathematician who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for Economics. - Avi Wigderson, Princeton
Computer scientist, mathematician, and Turing Award winner, known for his groundbreaking insights in computer science.
Enterprise
- George Cooney, Bogota
Chairman emeritus of EUE/Screen Gems Ltd, a visionary who built industry-leading entertainment service businesses for over 50 years catering to Madison Avenue and Hollywood. - Peter Cancro, Point Pleasant
Founder of Jersey Mike’s Franchise Systems, Inc., entrepreneur, businessman and philanthropist. - Donald Katz, Newark
Founder of Audible, Inc., award-winning journalist, and author.
Performing Arts & Entertainment
- Lesley Gore,Tenafly
Being honored posthumously. She was also a previous inductee, but is being formally inducted this year.
Singer-songwriter known for top-chart hits including “You Don’t Own Me” and “It’s My Party.” She was nominated for an Academy Award for “Out Here On My Own” from the movie FAME as well as three Grammy Awards nominations. - Warren Littlefield, Montclair
NBC Entertainment president who oversaw the groundbreaking “Must See TV” lineup, including “Seinfeld.” - Paul Rudd, Passaic
Emmy-nominated actor who was also nominated for a Golden Globe, two SAG Awards, and won a Critics’ Choice Award. - Kevin Smith, Red Bank
Director, producer, writer, and actor who helmed the Jersey-based comedy Clerks, among many others. A Red Bank native, he has owned the comic book store Jay and Silent Bob’s Secret Stash in the town for 25 years, and sets his movies in the Garden State. He recently purchased the Atlantic Movie House in the Highlands. - Meryl Streep, Bernardsville. Previous inductee, but being formally inducted this year. The actress is a three-time Academy Awards winner, three-time Emmy winner, eight-time Golden Globes winner, and is a Kennedy Center Honoree. She received a Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2014 and
Public Service
- Father Edwin D. Leahy, Newark
Benedictine monk and Catholic priest, headmaster of St. Benedict’s Prep in Newark - Geraldine Thompson, Lincroft
Social reform pioneer and founder of VNA Health Group who earned the nickname “First Lady of New Jersey” due to her philanthropic and social service activities.
Sports
- Dick Button, Englewood
Two-time Olympic Gold Medalist in figure skating, five consecutive gold medals from the World Championships, and an Emmy Award-winning former TV Sport Commentator. - Tim Howard, New Brunswick
Former goalkeeper for the United States Men’s National Team, regarded as one of the greatest American players of all time. - Ron Johnson, Madison. Being honored posthumously.
All-American running back and captain at the University of Michigan, twice earned All-Pro honors with the New York Giants, inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame, and served as chairman of the National Football Foundation. - Phil Simms, Franklin Lakes
Former New York Giants quarterback, Super Bowl MVP, and sports analyst
Other Nominees
Other nominees not selected in this round included:
- Singer-songwriter Phoebe Snow (Edison);
- Dancer and choreographer Savion Glover (Newark);
- Comedian Bill Maher (River Vale);
- Film director Thom Zimny (Point Pleasant);
- Literary journalist and Princeton University professor John McPhee (Princeton);
- Bestselling fiction writer Janet Evanovich (South River);
- CNN host Dana Bash (Montvale);
- Super Bowl-winning Giants head coach Bill Parcells (Upper Saddle River);
- Sexologist, biologist, and author Alfred Kinsey (Hoboken);
- Master luthier, engineer, and inventor, Phil Petillo (Ocean Township), who made guitars for Jim Croce, Bruce Springsteen and other greats.
NJHOF: Visit at American Dream
NJHOF’s Entertainment and Learning Center (ELC) opened to the public at American Dream Meadowlands last month. The 10,000-square-foot interactive space boasts state-of-the-art exhibits and encourages people to “find their heroes and achieve their best.”
High tech, interactive, informative, and fun, visitors becomes a “user” of the space more than a peruser. Touching everything is the only way to participate and everything comes to life.
There is a karaoke stage where visitors can sing with holograms of some of the greatest performers that hail from the Garden State, like Newark natives Gloria Gaynor and Frankie Valli. You can also take an 8-minute, 4D ride in a simulated Ford Model T that goes across the Atlantic and to the moon.
See also: Fly to the Moon After Interviewing Bon Jovi at NJ Hall of Fame Meadowlands
NJHOF: Inductees Honored on the Garden State Parkway
Nine Garden State Parkway rest stops and service areas were renamed in 2021 for headlining Jerseyans and inductees like Jon Bon Jovi, Whitney Houston, James Gandolfini and Judy Blume.
- Montvale: James Gandolfini Service Area
- Brookdale North: Larry Doby Service Area
- Brookdale South: Connie Chung Service Area
- Vauxhall: Whitney Houston Service Area
- Cheesequake: Jon Bon Jovi Service Area
- Monmouth: Judy Blume Service Area
- Forked River: Celia Cruz Service Area
- Atlantic: Frank Sinatra Service Area
- Ocean View: Bruce Willis Service Area (Previously Toni Morison)
About the New Jersey Hall of Fame
The NJHOF honors citizens who have made invaluable contributions to society, the State of New Jersey and the world beyond. Since 2008, the NJHOF has hosted 14 ceremonies for more than 200 notable individuals and groups in recognition of their induction into the Hall of Fame.
The NJHOF endeavors to present school children with significant and impactful role models to show that they can, and should, strive for excellence.
The NJHOF is thankful for the support of its many sponsors, like Hackensack Meridian Health, without which none of our endeavors would be possible. For more information, go to www.njhalloffame.org.
