21 Famous Garden State Residents Earn Spot In NJ Hall Of Fame (VIDEO)

NEW JERSEY — Nearly two dozen "Garden State heroes" have been honored with a spot in the New Jersey Hall of Fame.

The New Jersey Hall of Fame (NJHOF) recently hosted its 16th annual induction ceremony (watch the video below). Filmed at the New Jersey Hall of Fame at American Dream in East Rutherford and hosted by Danny DeVito, the 2024 ceremony provided some Jersey pride, grit and humor.

Highlights included actress and singer Cher presenting an award to her friend, Meryl Streep, and figure skater Scott Hamilton presenting an award to fellow Olympian Dick Button. Meanwhile, DeVito rolled up his sleeves with Peter Cancro, the founder of Jersey Mike’s, to make a sandwich that “tastes like home.”

“My dreams were born in New Jersey, and my imagination was nurtured in her public schools, and for that, I am very grateful,” said Streep (Basking Ridge and Bernardsville), who earned a nod in the Performing Arts & Entertainment category.

Soccer player Tim Howard, who eared a spot in the hall’s Sports category, credited his success to “grit, desire and unwavering dedication to never accept failure” – which he honed on the running pitches of North Brunswick.

“This is an annual opportunity to celebrate New Jersey’s best and brightest, both past and present,” Gov. Phil Murphy said.

Here are this year's inductees (*honored posthumously, **previous inductee, but being formally inducted this year):

Arts & Letters

• Gay Talese, Ocean City, author-journalist

Education & Science

• Elizabeth Coleman White*, Whitesbog, botanist who developed the nation’s first cultivated blueberry
• Dr. John Forbes Nash, Jr. */**, 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 Beach, 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 including “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, two SAG Awards, and won a Critics’ Choice Award
• Kevin Smith, Highlands, director, producer, writer, and actor who helmed the Jersey-based comedy Clerks
• Meryl Streep**, Basking Ridge and Bernardsville, actress who has won three Academy Awards, eight Golden Globes, is a Kennedy Center Honoree, 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, Red Bank, 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, North Brunswick, former goalkeeper for the United States Men’s National Team, regarded as one of the greatest American players of all time
• Ron Johnson*, Summit, 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

Educator of the Year

• Andrew DeNicola*, Edison, renowned Grammy Music Educator Award Finalist and American Bandmaster with a celebrated 50-year career, best known as Director of Bands at John P. Stevens High School

Unsung Heroes

• Bob Guarasci, Paterson, Founder and CEO of New Jersey Community Development Corporation in Paterson
• Reva Foster, Willingboro, Director of Willingboro Township Senior Center

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.

Inductees now have a permanent home at the NJHOF at American Dream in East Rutherford, America’s first Entertainment and Learning Center, which opened in June. The 10,000-square-foot center includes state-of-the-art exhibits that showcase the best of the Garden State, such as a karaoke stage where visitors can sing alongside holograms of musicians like Gloria Gaynor and Wyclef Jean and a Late Night Jersey TV Studio where participants can interview holograms of Jon Bon Jovi, Connie Chung, Jason Alexander and other renowned New Jerseyans.

Watch a video of the 2024 ceremony below via the NJHOF, or view it online here.

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