CNJ+ October 2024

NEW JERSEY HALL OF FAME ANNOUNCES ITS INCOMING 2024 CLASS OF INDUCTEES

On the heels of opening the New Jersey Hall of Fame at American Dream, the New Jersey Hall of Fame (NJHOF) announces its next class of Jersey greats. The list of 18 Inductees includes Actress Meryl Streep, Actor Paul Rudd, Founder and CEO of Jer sey Mike’s Subs Peter Cancro, former NY Giants Quarterback Phil Simms, and Sing er-Songwriter Lesley Gore.

two SAG Awards, and won a Critics’ Choice Award Kevin Smith , Red Bank, director, produc er, writer, and actor who helmed the Jer sey-based comedy Clerks Meryl Streep **, Bernardsville, actress who has won three Academy Awards, eight Golden Globes, is a Kennedy Center Hon

oree, and received a Presidential Medal of Freedom 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 skat ing, 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, 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 chair man of the National Football Foundation Phil Simms , Franklin Lakes, former New York Giants quarterback, Super Bowl MVP, and sports analyst The 18 Inductees in the six categories were chosen from 50 nominees after a public vote. The Hall of Fame reserves the right to announce other Induct ees at a later time. ABOUT THE NEW JERSEY HALL OF FAME Because everyone needs a hero, the New Jersey Hall of Fame (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 15 ceremonies for more than 230 notable individuals and groups in recog nition of their induction into the Hall of Fame. In June of 2024, the New Jersey Hall of Fame opened the nation’s first state-of-the-art Entertainment and Learning Center at American Dream. 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 sup port of its many sponsors, including Hackensack Meridian Health, without which none of our endeavors would be possible. For more information, go www.NJHOF.org *Being honored posthumously. **Previous Inductee, but being formally inducted this year.

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 November 13 on Fox 5 My9 and social media. Doz ens of Inductee events will be open to the public throughout the year on Inductee birthdays, beginning as early as 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, journalist for The New York Times and Esquire magazine, a pioneer who pushed the boundaries of traditional journalism Education & Science Elizabeth Coleman White *, Whitesbog, botanist who developed the na tion’s first cultivated blueberry John Forbes Nash */**, Princeton, 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, singer-songwriter known for top-chart hits in cluding “You Don’t Own Me” and “It’s My Party,” she received an Academy Award nomination for “Out Here On My Own” from the movie FAME and three Grammy Award nominations Warren Littlefield , Montclair, NBC Entertainment president who oversaw the groundbreaking “Must See TV” lineup, including “Seinfeld” Paul Rudd **, Passaic, actor who has been nominated for a Golden Globe,

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