3 Fairfielders Named To CT '40 Under 40' List

FAIRFIELD, CT — The future of Fairfield is bright if Connecticut Magazine’s “40 Under 40: The Class of 2022” is any indication. Three Fairfielders made the list, which consists of nominations from friends, family and magazine staff. The local honorees are:

• Janae Marks: A 37-year-old author, Marks' youth-focused books, “From the Desk of Zoe Washington” and “A Soft Place to Land,” have been lauded by publications such as Parents Magazine, Kirkus Reviews, Booklist and Publisher’s Weekly, among others, according to Connecticut Magazine. Her next book, “On Air with Zoe Washington,” is set to publish in winter 2023.
• James Whiteside: Also 37, Whiteside is a principal dancer for the American Ballet Theatre and the author of “Center, Center,” an “almost-memoir” about a boy who dances ballet, the magazine reported.
• Alex Plitsas: At 37, Plitsas has been involved in two wars, received the Bronze Star Medal and Combat Action Badge, and helped start an organization to assist U.S. citizens in Afghanistan who are trapped and seeking to leave the country, according to the magazine.

Also on the magazine's list is Matthew Torres, a 21-year-old Fairfield University student and Paralympic swimmer from Ansonia. Torres won a bronze medal at last year’s Paralympic Games in Tokyo.

Read more about these and other accomplished Connecticut residents under 40 in Connecticut Magazine.