2 Luminaries With Ties To Newark Earn Spots In NJ Hall Of Fame

NEWARK, NJ — Two luminaries with ties to Newark will be inducted as one of the latest members of the New Jersey Hall of Fame.

Donald Katz and Edwin Leahy each earned a spot in the hall as part of the 2024 class. Katz, the founder of Newark-based company Audible, is also an award-winning journalist and author. Leahy is the headmaster of St. Benedict’s Prep in Newark.

The honorees will be inducted at the 16th annual New Jersey Hall of Fame ceremony, which will air beginning on Nov. 13.

“The 2024 class of Inductees of the New Jersey Hall of Fame illustrate the New Jersey ethic of hard work, determination, and grit,” NJHOF chair Jon Hanson said. “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 follows below:

*Being honored posthumously

**Previous inductee, but being formally inducted this year

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 nation’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 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, Red Bank, director, producer, writer, and actor who helmed the Jersey-based comedy Clerks
• Meryl Streep**, 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, 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, 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

Send local news tips and correction requests to eric.kiefer@patch.com. Learn more about advertising on Patch here. Find out how to post announcements or events to your local Patch site. Don’t forget to visit the Patch Newark Facebook page.