Fifteen People Inducted into New Jersey Hall of Fame

Today, the new New Jersey Hall of Fame will induct fifteen men and women--living and deceased--in a ceremony today. They are, in alphabetical order, Buzz Aldrin, Clara Barton, Yogi Berra, Bill Bradley, Thomas Edison, Albert Einstein, Malcolm Forbes, Robert Wood Johnson II, Vince Lombardi, Toni Morrison, Norman Schwarzkopf, Frank Sinatra, Bruce Springsteen, Meryl Streep and Harriet Tubman.

The inductees, who were selected from a pool of 25 finalists, must have lived in the state for at least five years (but an exception was made for Underground Railroad pioneer Tubman, who used Cape May as her base), filling five categories--historical, enterprise, arts & entertainment, sports, and general. And while there's no museum yet, fund-raising is underway.

Beloved Yankee player Yogi Berra, who has lived in Montclair, NJ since 1952, told the AP, "I think anything you get inducted to you feel good about. Heck to get inducted with all them guys, that's pretty good." Meryl Streep, who grew up in Bernardsville, is "honored," but her rep said she wishes to postpone the presentation of her award "until she can accept in person."

The Post points out some of the more well-known residents, including James Gandolfini, James McGreevey and Jon Bon Jovi, have not made the list. Well, there's next year! Except probably not for McGreevey, unless it's a Hall of Shame.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jen Chung in News on May 4, 2008 1:50 PM

Comments [rss]

mrguy

Where's my girl Ashley Dupre??

JRod5417

What happened to Bobby & Whitney?! Dionne Warwick and her circle of friends?!

robingee

No Wavin' Willie??

Snoopy

Yeh! What happened to Chuckie Lindbergh and Bruno Richard Hauptmann? We are talking famous people of New Jersey here aren't we.

How about that guy Taffy that started all that salt water candy stuff? And don't forget Little Nickie Scarfo who without him Atlantic City wouldn't be what it is today. Doesn't Little Kim live in Jersey? Some more candidates are Lou Duva and Hurricane Carter.

Then people ask why people laugh when the name New Jersey comes up.

They need a new slogan, how about "New Jersey. Why are you ROFL?"

sonyactivision

The Lindbergh baby got robbed! Next time or else!

Snoopy

Didn't Mike Tyson live there also?

Ethan

Chelsea Handler!!! and Chuy.

Ethan

No Joe Piscopo?

TimSPC

What? No Uncle Floyd?

Jen Chung

@Snoopy-- I know! But with the 5-year requirement, I'm sure they can dig deep...for instance, Eddie Murphy has had a home in Alpine, NJ for a while.

Snoopy

That is just great. I sure hope they don't elect fifteen individuals every year. If so, they are going to run out of individuals someplace between now and next year.

kapusta

who knew?

a nj hall of fame!

lemme git this straight: ed "buzz" aldrin is next to al "the erect electron" einstein?!?!?!

tsol

What- no Aaron Burr?!?

Dave Hogarty

Yogi would say "McGreevey wasn't that bad. He didn't know he was gay, except when he was having sex with men; but he was married, so the confusion was understandable."