Historical
The Historical Category is open for deceased New Jerseyans whose contributions transcend any one particular category.

Grover Cleveland Caldwell (b.1837 – d. 1908)
The only President to serve two non-consecutive terms, he is still praised by historians for his honesty, independence and good character.

Admiral William Halsey Elizabeth (1882 - 1959)

This highly decorated 5-star Navy Admiral commanded the U.S. Third Fleet during World War II; he was present at the Japanese surrender that ended World War II.

Thomas Paine   Bordentown (1737 – 1809)

Born in England, this great thinker emigrated to the colonies in 1774 where he was an author, pamphleteer, revolutionary and leading intellectual in pre-Revolutionary War efforts. Bordentown was his home for more than 25 years.

Alice Paul  Mt. Laurel/Moorestown (1885 – 1977)

Dedicated to securing equal rights for all women, Paul was a leader in the successful campaign for women’s suffrage that resulted in the passage of the Nineteenth Amendment.

Les Paul  Mahwah (1915 - 2009)

Paul pioneered the development of the solid body electric guitar and was the genius behind recording innovations such as overdubbing, delay effects, phasing, tape delay and multitrack recording; elected to Inventors HOF, Rock & Roll HOF and National Broadcasters HOF.

Woodrow Wilson Princeton (1856 – 1924):

The 28th president of the United States also served as president of Princeton University and Governor of New Jersey; awarded Nobel Peace Prize in 1919. 

Enterprise
The Enterprise Category is open to scientists, business leaders, inventors, leaders in medicine, entrepreneurs and philanthropists.

Michael Graves  Princeton  (1934)

Considered to be one of the great American architects of the second half of the 20th Century; recipient of many awards including National Medal of Arts and AIA Gold Medal.

Mary G. Roebling  Trenton (1905 – 1994)

Broke the glass ceiling for women in business in general and in the banking and financial services industry specifically. She was the first female governor of the American Stock Exchange.

David Sarnoff Princeton, Camden, Harrison, Somerville, Moorestown (1891-1971):

Father of electronic communications, from radio and television broadcasting to color TV and flat-panel display all created by RCA in New Jersey.

Wally Schirra Oradell (1923 – 2007)

A graduate of Dwight Morrow High School, Schirra attended NJIT before transferring to the U.S. Naval Academy. He was one of the original Mercury 7 astronauts and the only person to fly in all of America’s first three space programs (Mercury, Gemini and Apollo).

Paul Volcker Teaneck (1927 - )

Born in Cape May, Volker graduated from Teaneck High School and Princeton University to become a leading economist and Chairman of the Federal Reserve under Presidents Carter and Reagan.

Alice Waters Chatham; (1944 - )

Influential chef who is a famous champion of locally-grown fresh ingredients, attracting national attention for food education.

Arts & Entertainment
The Arts & Entertainment Category includes musicians, singers, songwriters, actors & actresses, artists, dancers and those who work in the related fields.

Count Basie Red Bank (1904 - 1984)

The “Kid from Red Bank” became one of the leading figures of the swing era and one of the most beloved jazz musicians, band leaders and composers of all time.

Danny DeVito  Neptune/Asbury Park (1944 - ) actor, director, producer who gained prominence in the TV series ‘Taxi”; founder of two successful production companies, Jersey Films and Jersey Television.

Jack Nicholson Neptune (1937 - )

A Manasquan High School graduate who has become an internationally renowned actor with 12 Academy Award nominations and three wins, seven Golden Globe Awards and a Kennedy Center Honor.

Susan Sarandon  Edison (1946 - ) Edison High School graduate who has become a popular film and television actress known also for her political activism; a five-time Academy Award nominee with one win, she has been honored for her work as an advocate for victims of hunger and HIV/AIDS among many awards.

Frankie Valli  Newark (1934 - )

A musical icon, Valli became famous as the frontman for The Four Seasons and is in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame; he had 29 Top 40 hits with The Four Seasons and nine Top 40 hits as a solo artist.

Stevie Wonder  Alpine (1950 - )

Born in Saginaw, Michigan, Wonder became a superstar Motown artist, winning 22 Grammy Awards and has sold more than 100 million albums; well known for his humanitarian work and support for children’s causes.

Sports
The Sports Category is open not only to athletes, but also to coaches and others in the field of sports.

Larry Doby Paterson (1923 - 2003)

Second African-American Major League Baseball player and first in the American League, this Hall of Fame baseball player grew up in Paterson.

Anne Donovan   Ridgewood (1961 - )

One of the most decorated figures in women’s basketball as college player and head coach; three time Olympian.

Leon Hess Asbury Park (1914 – 1999)

Business leader who began with one-truck oil delivery company, eventually becoming one of richest men in the country; bought NY Titans which became the NY Jets; responsible for moving the team to New Jersey in 1984.

Carl Lewis Willingboro  (1961 - )

Dominant Olympic athlete and nine-time gold medal winner whose lifetime accomplishments earned him the “Sportsman of the Century” award by IOC, among many other accolades.

Wellington Mara East Rutherford (1916-2005)

Legendary owner of the New York Giants who was responsible for bringing the team to New Jersey in 1976; although he lived in Rye, New York, he was beloved by New Jersey fans and proved you could be a successful sports owner as well as a gentleman.

Joe Theismann New Brunswick (1949 - )

A South River High School graduate who achieved gridiron greatness at Notre Dame, in the Canadian Football League and eventually with the Washington Redskins.

General
The General Category is a large category encompassing educators, military leaders, writers, poets, scholars, religious leaders, civil servants, politicians and others not specifically falling into the other categories.

Judy Blume  Elizabeth (1938 - )

A popular author who has won scores of literary awards, including the National Book Foundation Medal and a Library of Congress Living Legends Award. By tackling controversial subjects she has touched a nerve with young readers and she has championed intellectual freedom and the rights of children to read a variety of books. Photo credit: Sigrid Estrada

William J. Brennan Newark (1908- 1997)

A Barringer High School graduate who became a highly respected jurist, serving as a U.S. Supreme Court Justice from 1956 to 1990.

Doris Duke Hillsborough (1912 – 1993)

Heiress, horticulturalist and art collector who became a great philanthropist, supporting wildlife refuges, environmental conservation, historic preservation, medical research and child welfare.

Milton Friedman Rahway (1912 – 2006)

A Rutgers graduate, this Nobel Prize winning economist became one of the most influential and honored economists of the 20th Century.

Thomas Nast  Morristown (1840 – 1902)

 German-born caricaturist who is considered the father of political cartoons. He is credited with creating the iconic drawings of Santa Claus, Uncle Sam, the Republican Party elephant, the Democratic Party donkey and Columbia, the image of America as a woman.

Philip Roth Newark (1933 - )

Weequahic High School graduate whose best-selling novels have made him one of the most celebrated living American writers.