LEAD SPONSOR:
TOP 20 IN THE NATION. #1* IN NY-NJ METRO AREA.
Hackensack University Medical Center:
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Top 20 nationally
#1* in NY-NJ metro area *Tied
#1 adult & children’s hospitals in NJ
The only nationally ranked cancer center in NJ at John Theurer Cancer Center
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• Specialties ranked among the best in the nation for clinical excellence in: Urology
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• • Geriatrics Cardiology, Heart & Vascular Surgery Cancer Gastroenterology & GI Surgery Ear, Nose & Throat
Orthopedics
Pulmonology
Diabetes & Endocrinology
Neurology
Jersey Shore University Medical Center: JFK Johnson Rehabilitation Institute: Top 20 in NY-NJ metro area Top 5 in NJ
Nationally High Performing in: Cardiology, Heart & Vascular Surgery Geriatrics
Pulmonology & Lung Surgery •
Among the nation’s best physical rehabilitation hospitals
November,
2025
Hackensack Meridian Health is so proud to be the lead sponsor of the New Jersey Hall of Fame, which honors the incredible talent in our home state that inspires all of us!
The 2025 class has made remarkable contributions in the world of the arts, media, history, culture, business and much more and include Dana S. Bash, CNN chief political correspondent, Bon Jovi keyboardist David Bryan, The Isley Brothers, Jonas Brothers and sports legends such as New Jersey Devils three time Stanley Cup winning goaltender Martin Brodeur and Hubie Brown, two-time NBA Coach of the year.
October 2024
October 2024
Hackensack Meridian Health is honored to be the lead sponsor of the New Jersey Hall of Fame. We would like to congratulate all 2024 inductees who continue to represent our great state so well.
Hackensack Meridian Health is honored to be the lead sponsor We would like to congratulate all 2024 inductees who continue
We also honor David Burke, renowned restaurateur and culinary innovator and Lawrence R. Inserra Jr., chairman and CEO of Inserra Supermarkets Inc., who has contributed so much to our health network and the communities we proudly serve.
Each person has made a remarkable contribution and deserves the recognition of being voted into the Hall. This year’s class showcases the depth and variety of talent in New Jersey, ranging from the founder of Jersey Mike’s, Peter Cancro, to Actress and Academy Award winner, Meryl Streep, former New York Giants Quarterback and Super Bowl MVP, Phil Simms, and Actor Paul Rudd.
Each person has made a remarkable contribution and deserves the Hall. This year’s class showcases the depth and variety of founder of Jersey Mike’s, Peter Cancro, to Actress and Academy New York Giants Quarterback and Super Bowl MVP, Phil Simms,
This year, we have honored a new set of heroes – those in the arts, the greatest minds in business, education and science, world-class athletes, and those who have left their mark through extraordinary public service.
Heartfelt thanks to those who have left their mark through extraordinary public service that lives on in their legacies: Lieutenant Governor Sheila Y. Oliver, the first woman of color elected to a statewide office, William Edward Simon, philanthropist and former U.S. Secretary of the Treasury and David T. Wilentz, former attorney general.
Congratulations also to Educator of the Year Drury Thorp and Unsung Hero Dorothea Bongiovi, Founder of the JBJ Soul Kitchen.
We salute those brilliant minds who are still with us and no longer here but whose contributions and legacy live on, including Elizabeth Coleman While, botanist who developed the nation’s first cultivated blueberry; Lesley Gore, singer-songwriter known for top-chart hits including “You Don’t Own Me” and “It’s My Party”; and Ron Johnson, All-American running back and captain at the University of Michigan and twice earned All-Pro honors wit the New York Giants.
This year, we have honored a new set of heroes – those in the education and science, world-class athletes, and those who public service.
At Hackensack Meridian Health, we continue to support these exceptional honorees who have made a real difference to New Jersey. And we continue to be proud to deliver exceptional healthcare to the communities that we serve.
At Hackensack Meridian Health, we continue to support these exceptional honorees who have made a real difference to New Jersey. We are proud to transform healthcare in New Jersey and beyond and build stronger communities.
We salute those brilliant minds who are still with us and no legacy live on, including Elizabeth Coleman While, botanist blueberry; Lesley Gore, singer-songwriter known for top-chart
Congratulations to everyone, and thank you to the New Jersey Hall of Fame for everything you do to honor these great New Jerseyans!
“It’s My Party”; and Ron Johnson, All-American running back and twice earned All-Pro honors wit the New York Giants.
Congratulations to the entire class of 2025! Thank you to the New Jersey Hall of Fame for everything you do to honor these great New Jerseyans!
Sincerely,
Bob Garrett
CEOHackensack Meridian Health
At Hackensack Meridian Health, we continue to support these a real difference to New Jersey. And we continue to be proud communities that we serve.
Congratulations to everyone, and thank you to the New Jersey honor these great New Jerseyans!
Bob Garrett CEO, Hackensack Meridian Health
Sincerely,
Dear
Friends
of the New Jersey Hall of Fame,
On behalf of the New Jersey Hall of Fame Board of Trustees, we welcome you to the 17th Annual Induction Ceremony and extend our hearty congratulations to the Class of 2025 inductees, including our Educator of the Year, and this year’s Areté Scholarship recipients and Essay Contest winners.
This ceremony is just steps away from our 10,000 square foot New Jersey Hall of Fame here at American Dream. This interactive masterpiece is the first of its kind in the nation, celebrating New Jersey’s outstanding citizens and inspiring people to find their heroes and become their best. We look forward to welcoming people from all over the nation and the world to our Hall of Fame, including World Cup soccer fans next year, so that they can appreciate New Jersey’s rich heritage.
Our promotion of the New Jersey Hall of Fame at American Dream reaches over 125 million people annually in our airports, terminals, waterways and service areas, and our programming draws and delights students from across the state, along with senior groups for inductee interviews, engaging events, and exhibits. To further fulfill our mission to inspire and educate through our world-class Hall of Fame, we’re producing engaging podcasts and short “Words of Wisdom” videos with our inductees.
As you will see from the following pages of the program, all this is made possible by our many sponsors, including our Lead Sponsor, Hackensack Meridian Health, and our Major sponsors, PSEG/PSEG Foundation and The State of New Jersey, as well as our Founding and Media and Exhibits sponsors. Finally, we express our gratitude for the talented team and the generous sponsors who have made this 17th Annual Induction Ceremony possible.
Jon F. Hanson Chairman
Steve Edwards President
Leo T. Ehrline III Executive Vice President
NEW JERSEY HALL OF FAME LEADERSHIP
Jon F. Hanson
Chairman of the Board Chairman and Founder, The Hampshire Companies
Steve Edwards President NJHOF President, BGIA
John Keegan Chairman Emeritus President and Chairman, Charles Edison Fund and Edison Innovation Foundation
Bart Oates
Chairman Emeritus Partner, Avison Young Retired Center, NY Giants
Tony Armlin Vice President, Triple Five
Tom Bracken President/CEO, New Jersey State Chamber of Commerce
Kevin L. Clayton Managing Partner, Finley Ridge Group
Fletch Creamer, Jr. Partner, River Bank Management
Terry Frassetto President, Saddleback Real Estate Developers
Robert C. Garrett CEO, Hackensack Meridian Health Network
Angelo J. Genova, Esq. Chairman & Co-Founding Partner, Genova Burns, LLC
Aisha Glover
Head of Urban Innovation, Audible
Ted Knauss
Senior Vice President and Market Leader, NJ, NY, CT – Commercial Banking, Corporate & Institutional Banking, The PNC Financial Services Group
Calvin Ledford Jr. President, PSEG Foundation Director, Corporate Social Responsibility
Kevin McCabe Partner/Director of Public and Political Affairs, River Crossing Strategy Group
David Munshine President and CEO, The Munshine Group
Peter Simon Founding Partner, Simon Quick
David Smith Partner, Princeton Public Affairs Group
Sean Spiller President, NJEA
Tom Sullivan CEO, Princeton Partners
Gary Taffet Managing Member, Acrisure New Jersey
Finn Wentworth Entrepreneur and Philanthropist Former President of YankeeNets, LLC
NEW JERSEY HALL OF FAME LEADERSHIP
Leo T. Ehrline, III Executive Vice President
Tammy Uzzell Vice President, Operations
Brenda De Santis Director, Communications
Bryan J. Blaney
General Manager, Executive Director New Jersey Hall of Fame at American Dream
Rocky Halsey Director, Development & Strategic Partnerships
Perry Simon Senior Manager, Technology/AV Services
Alexandra Genova Director, Educational Programs
NEW JERSEY HALL OF FAME ADVISORY BOARD
R. Thurman Barnes, Director of Policy & External Affairs at NJ Dept. of Community Affairs
Marie Blistan, President, NJEA (retired)
Adam Faiella, Associate, Sills Cummis & Gross P.C.
Steve Gorelick, Executive Director, NJ Motion Picture and Television Commission
Bill Kettleson, RVP Government Affairs at Comcast (retired)
Karen Martin, Executive Producer, Jersey Girls Productions & SH!NE Animation Studios
Michael Rockland, Professor of American Studies, Rutgers University
Carol Ross, Aura Entertainment Group
Daphne Williams Fox, Esq.
LEAD SPONSOR
Hackensack Meridian Health
MAJOR SPONSORS
PSEG/PSEG Foundation
The State of New Jersey
FOUNDING SPONSORS
Acrisure
Al Leiter Foundation
Bank of America
Business and Governmental Insurance Agency
The Charles Edison Fund
Creamer Family Foundation
Edison Innovation Foundation
The Edwards Family
Genova Burns, LLC
Group One, LLC
The Hampshire Foundation
Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey
F.M. Kirby Foundation, Inc.
S. Dillard and Adrienne Kirby Family
Philanthropic Fund (CFNJ)
The Munshine Group
NIP Group
New Jersey Education Association
NJM Insurance Group
PNC Financial Services
Prudential Financial Services
RWJBarnabas Health
Russo Development/ Russo Family Foundation
Saddleback Real Estate Developers
The Taffet Family
Triple Five Group
Kim and Finn Wentworth
MEDIA & EXHIBITS SPONSORS
101.5
1010 WINS
Applegreen
Battleship New Jersey Comcast
Eagleton Center for Public Interest Polling
Interstate Outdoors
Jersey Matters
Meadowlands Chamber
New Jersey News Network
NJParenting.com
NJ TRANSIT
MY9TV TAPinto
Newark Liberty International Airport News 12 New Jersey
New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission
NJ Advance Media (NJ.com)
WE ARE PROUD TO THANK OUR GENEROUS SPONSORS (CONT.)
New Jersey Monthly
NJPBS
New Jersey Turnpike Authority
New York Waterway
Optimum
Port Authority of NY & NJ
“Remember Them with Steve Adubato & Jacqui Tricarico”
The Star-Ledger
Travel Plaza Media
United Airlines
Verizon Fios
EXHIBIT SPONSORS
PNC Financial Services
Fly Me to the Moon
PSEG/PSEG Foundation
Everyday Heroes
Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of NJ
Karaoke Stage
Hackensack Meridian Health
Late Night Jersey TV
2025 INDUCTION CEREMONY SPONSORS
PLATINUM SPONSORS
Charles Edison Fund
Diamond Lake / Unblinded
Hess Foundation
Inserra Family
Kevin and Lisa Clayton
Kim and Finn Wentworth
Saddleback Real Estate Developers
Sam Chernin
United Airlines
Wilf Family
GOLD SPONSORS
AT&T Inc.
Brad and Barbara Fritts
BNE Real Estate
Deer Run Realty, LLC
Harris Blitzer Sports Entertainment
Johnson & Johnson
New York Football Giants
Provident Bank
RWJBarnabas Health
Wiss & Company, LLP
WE ARE PROUD TO THANK OUR GENEROUS SPONSORS (CONT.)
SILVER SPONSORS
Axcess Worldwide
Eisner Amper
Genova Burns LLC
High Point Media
Holland America Line
JPMorgan Private Bank
National Basketball Association
Orchard Park by David Burke
Patterson Belknap Webb & Tyler
Rose Equities
Sills Cummis & Gross
The Eastwick Foundation
The Landis Group
The Mandelbaum Foundation
The Munshine Group
The Park Château Estate
The Weil Group
The Werbler Family
U.S. Bank
Wasserman Foundation
Wilentz, Goldman & Spitzer, P.A.
BRONZE SPONSORS
JMF Properties
Russell & Susan Macnow
Madison Square Garden
M&T Bank Walsh
World Insurance
Ms. Jodi Matthews & Mr. Peter Zuk
Anthony Scaramucci SkyBridge Capital
Brandon Fugal Colliers International
Larry Namer Founder E! TV
Michael Malik Sr. Gateway Casino Resorts
Andrew Fromm Fromm Consulting
Raul Leal SH Hotels & Resorts
Agnes
Romaine
Brian J. Esposito
Congratulations to Michael Uslan and the Class of 2025 inductees
Supermarkets Congratulates
to the 2023 NJ Hall of Fame Inductees
For Representing Our Great State With Their Remarkable Achievements
Kevin & Lisa Clayton and Family 2025
NEW JERSEY HALL OF FAME
We proudly salute
all the deser ving
New Jersey Hall of Fame
2025 Inductees
Especially our friends,
Zygi Wilf
William E. Simon Family and
Frank Bisignano
Kim & Finn Wentwor th m
Saddleback Real Estate Developers specializes in industrial properties throughout the state of New Jersey. As a prominent commercial real estate development firm, owners Salvatore Frassetto and Terry Frassetto collectively provide more than 80 years of expertise in the New Jersey marketplace. Saddleback owns and manages 20 industrial properties and has developed more than 20 million square feet of real estate. Saddleback specializes in revitalizing and repositioning distressed properties while offering quick and streamlined closings. Visit Saddleback Real Estate Developers at www.SaddlebackNJ.com.
Saddleback takes pride in New Jersey and in projects both large and small and is currently looking for new properties of all types to add to their portfolio. Contact Terry Frassetto or Salvatore V. Frassetto to discuss commercial real estate at 973.227.3333, TFrassetto@SaddlebackNJ.com or SFrassetto@SaddlebackNJ.com. Visit Saddleback Real Estate Developers at www.SaddlebackNJ.com.
No one is more worthy than ZYGI WILF, whose generosity and devotion to the community has made New Jersey and the World a better place.
His Hall of Fame induction is an honor and is well deserved.
Sam Chernin
CONGRATULATIONS
TO THE 2025 NJHOF INDUCTEES
CONGRATULATIONS to all 2025 NJHOF Inductees
CLASS OF 2025 INDUCTEE ARTS & LETTERS
DANA S. BASH
Dana S. Bash is CNN’s chief political correspondent, anchor of Inside Politics with Dana Bash, and co-anchor of State of the Union with Jake Tapper and Dana Bash, the network’s Sunday morning newsmaker show. Bash is an award-winning journalist who plays a key role in the network’s political coverage, conducting high-profile interviews with candidates, serving as an anchor for CNN’s Election Night in America special coverage, and frequently moderating presidential debates and town hall specials. In 2024, she co-moderated CNN’s historic Presidential Debate between President Joe Biden and President Donald Trump.
Bash’s first book, “America’s Deadliest Election,” which she co-authored with David Fisher, details the 1872 Louisiana gubernatorial election. It debuted on the New York Times bestseller list. In 2021, Bash launched her CNN series, Being..., which features in-depth conversations with individuals affecting American policy, politics, and culture, giving viewers an understanding of the human being behind the public face. Her digital CNN series, Badass Women of Washington, profiles women from various backgrounds and generations to show how they have shattered glass ceilings on their way up the ranks. Her CNN Special Report, Rising Hate: Antisemitism in America, is an in-depth look at how antisemitism, once the hate of extremists, became mainstream and explores ways to curb it.
During the 2024 election cycle, Bash secured the first joint interview with Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris and vice-presidential nominee Tim Walz. She also moderated CNN’s Republican Presidential Primary town hall with former Vice President Mike Pence. Bash moderated CNN’s first debate of the 2020 election cycle in Detroit, as well as the last Democratic Presidential Debate of the cycle in Washington. She played a key role in CNN’s 2016 presidential primary debates, serving as a moderator for six of the network’s seven primary debates on both sides of the aisle. As part of her coverage of the 2016 presidential campaigns, Bash conducted sit-down interviews with the majority of the candidates, including Donald Trump, Senators Ted Cruz, Marco Rubio, and Bernie Sanders, and Governors Jeb Bush and John Kasich.
Bash also continues to be instrumental in the network’s Capitol Hill coverage. In 2015, she broke news on live television that House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy would not be running for Speaker of the House and conducted Speaker John Boehner’s final interview on his last day in office. Bash also served as the lead correspondent covering former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s 11-hour testimony before the House Select Committee on Benghazi. Bash won the Radio and Television Correspondents Association’s Joan S. Barone Award for her original reporting on a STOCK Act loophole that led Congress to pass legislation to close it. She is also a winner of the National Press Foundation’s Sol Taishoff Award for Excellence in Broadcast Journalism and a three-time recipient of the Foundation’s Everett McKinley Dirksen Award for Distinguished Reporting of Congress.
Bash graduated cum laude with her bachelor's degree in political communications from George Washington University. She was born in New York, raised in New Jersey, and currently lives in Washington, DC with her son.
Photo Credit: CNN
CLASS OF 2025 INDUCTEE ARTS & LETTERS
MARY ALICE WILLIAMS
Mary Alice Williams tends to see every obstacle as an opportunity. She began breaking down barriers as a teenager, at a time when television newsrooms were virtual boys’ clubs and the few girls allowed were relegated largely to “light and fluffy” stories, so-called “women’s news.” But Mary Alice was among a handful of women reporting from the field on events that re-shaped America, including political assassinations and Vietnam-era anti-war protests. Then, at age 22, she was installed as Executive Producer of news at the NBC affiliate station in Minneapolis and a year later Executive Producer in New York City. When WNBC launched the nation’s first two-hour evening newscast, Williams returned to reporting and anchoring, refusing to obey the boss who told her to change her name and mask her pale blue eyes with colored contact lenses because he thought her eyes were “creepy.” When Ted Turner launched the world’s first 24-hour global network, CNN, Williams was asked to join the founding team. As one of the primary architects behind its design, Williams oversaw the construction of CNN’s New York Bureau and took charge of the planning and operation of the network’s second-largest bureau with responsibility for seven hours of original programming per day. There, the pioneering journalist and broadcast executive went on to break the glass ceiling in broadcasting by becoming the first female prime-time anchor of a network news division and the first woman to hold the rank of Vice President of a news division. In addition to CNN, Mary Alice also served as anchor at many prominent networks, including PBS, Discovery, and NBC.
But her Jersey roots were deepening. When NJPBS built out its newscast to cover a state Benjamin Franklin had predicted would be a “mere apostrophe” between New York and Philadelphia, she jumped at the chance to help put it on the map as a stand-alone powerhouse of a state. She wrote and anchored a program that illuminated New Jersey’s promise and sharp-elbowed politics, culture and conflict, educational and environmental issues, and the health and well-being of the Garden State.
Williams has logged guest appearances on national television shows, earned 15 honorary doctorates for her work, garnered Emmy Awards and Gracie Allen Awards, Awards from American Women in Radio and Television, The American Medical Association, the American Bar Association and more and she has been inducted into the Silver Circle of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.
But her greatest accomplishment, just ask her, is having married a Jersey Boy and raised three powerful Jersey Girls!
Photo Credit: Michael Stahl
CLASS OF 2025 INDUCTEE
EDUCATION, RESEARCH, ENGINEERING, & SCIENCE
THE HONORABLE SHIRLEY ANN JACKSON, PH.D.
The Honorable Shirley Ann Jackson, Ph.D., has held leadership positions in academia, government, industry, and research. A theoretical physicist, Dr. Jackson holds an S.B. in Physics and a Ph.D. in Theoretical Elementary Particle Physics, both from MIT.
Dr. Jackson was the transformative 18th President of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute from 1999-2022. Dr. Jackson served as Co-Chair of the President’s Intelligence Advisory Board, from September 2014 until January 2017. From 2009-2014, Dr. Jackson served on the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) and as Co-Chair of the President’s Innovation and Technology Advisory Committee (PITAC). Dr. Jackson also has served on the U.S. Department of State International Security Advisory Board (ISAB), the U.S. Secretary of Energy Advisory Board (SEAB), and the U.S Department of Defense Science Board.
Dr. Jackson was Chairman of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) from 1995-1999. At the NRC, Dr. Jackson conceived and promulgated risk-informed, performance-based regulation, and created a new planning, budgeting, and performance management process (PBPM). Under Dr. Jackson’s leadership, the NRC advanced the Convention on Nuclear Safety, signed by over 170 countries, which remains in force today. While at the NRC, Dr. Jackson spearheaded the formation of the International Nuclear Regulators Association (INRA), serving as its Chairman from 1997-1999.
Dr. Jackson is a Life Member Emerita of the MIT Corporation, a former Vice-Chair, now Regent Emerita, of the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution. She was a member of the boards of the World Economic Forum USA (WEF USA), FedEx, IBM, Medtronic, PSEG, the New York Stock Exchange, Key Corp, AT&T, Marathon Oil, U.S. Steel, and Sealed Air Corporation.
Dr. Jackson currently serves on the Board of Directors of Kyndryl, the Global Board of Directors of The Nature Conservancy, and the Board of Trustees of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.
Dr. Jackson is a member of the U.S. National Academy of Engineering, the American Philosophical Society, and the Council on Foreign Relations, serving on its Board of Directors from 2008-2018. She is an International Fellow of the British Royal Academy of Engineering, and a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the American Physical Society, and the American Association for the Advancement of Science, serving as its president in 2004.
Dr. Jackson was the 2021 recipient of the American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT) Oersted Medal, the 2021 FBI Director’s Community Leadership Award, the 2019 American Physical Society (APS) Joseph A. Burton Forum Award, and, in 2018, the W.E.B. DuBois Medal from Harvard University.
In 2007, Dr. Jackson received the Vannevar Bush Award, awarded by the National Science Board, for “a lifetime of achievements in scientific research, education, and senior statesman-like contributions to public policy.”
In 2016, United States President Barack Obama awarded Dr. Jackson the National Medal of Science, the nation’s highest honor in science and engineering.
Dr. Jackson holds 58 honorary doctoral degrees.
CLASS OF 2025 INDUCTEE ENTERPRISE
FRANK BISIGNANO
Nicknamed Wall Street’s “Mr. Fix It,” Frank J. Bisignano has led complex organizations through modernization and digital transformation at several of the world’s premier financial institutions and technology companies during his distinguished career spanning more than four decades. When his country called on him to serve, Bisignano brought his extensive leadership experience to Washington, DC, as the 18th Senate-confirmed Commissioner of the U.S. Social Security Administration and Chief Executive Officer of the U.S. Internal Revenue Service.
His story, though, starts in Brooklyn, New York, in a multigenerational immigrant household. His maternal grandfather immigrated from Italy and joined the U.S. Army during World War I, seeking to serve his new country and earn his citizenship. Bisignano’s father grew up as an orphan in 1937 among 15 siblings, served in World War II, and dedicated 46 years to federal service as a customs agent, DEA agent, and customs inspector.
Bisignano started his career on Wall Street and was the youngest Senior Vice President at American Express at 25. By 30, he managed a third of First Fidelity Bank, New Jersey’s largest bank. Starting in 1994, Bisignano held several roles at Citigroup, including Chief Administrative Officer for the Corporate and Investment Bank, Chief Executive Officer of the Global Transactions Services business, and managed the integrations for all Citigroup’s mergers and acquisitions. While CAO, he served as the firm-wide deputy head of technology and operations. He held this post during the 9/11 crisis and is credited with creating and executing Citigroup’s successful business continuity plan, which involved relocating 16,000 employees displaced by the loss of 1.3 million square feet when the 7 World Trade Center building was destroyed.
Bisignano joined J.P. Morgan Chase as Chief Administrative Officer in 2005 and later assumed the role of co-Chief Operating Officer, while also serving on the firm’s Operating Committee and Executive Committee. Following the 2008 financial crisis, Bisignano had the additional responsibility of serving as the Chief Executive Officer of its Mortgage Banking unit, serving as a chief architect of the bank’s recovery plans. In 2011, he served as the chief negotiator for the country’s five largest mortgage servicers in a $25 billion housing settlement involving the Departments of Justice and Housing and Urban Development, and 49 state attorneys general to address mortgage servicing and foreclosure abuses. This role helped “reset” the housing market and established him as a leader in housing recovery.
Bisignano also led the integrations of Bank One, Bear Stearns, and Washington Mutual, while overseeing global technology, human resources, real estate, operations, procurement, compliance, regulatory control and oversight, resiliency, security and safety, and general services for all of J.P. Morgan Chase’s businesses across 60 countries.
In 2013, Bisignano joined First Data as Chief Executive Officer and added the title of Chairman of the Board in 2014. Upon his arrival at First Data, Bisignano began to rapidly transform the 43-year-old company from the world’s largest traditional payment processor into a technology innovator for the 21st Century. He also led its $2.6 billion initial public offering in 2015, the largest U.S. IPO of the year. Bisignano then architected the merger of Fiserv and First Data in 2019, initially leading the combined company’s day-to-day operations as President and Chief Operating Officer before becoming Chief Executive Officer in 2020 and Chairman of the Board in 2022.
While Chairman and CEO of Fiserv, the company advanced new capabilities and accelerated its growth by coupling innovation with scale and operational excellence, bringing modern solutions to financial institutions, businesses, and consumers. Under his leadership, Fiserv was the world’s largest financial services and payment technology company processing over 850 million transactions daily, totaling more than $2.5 trillion, handling over 400 million phone calls annually, and fundamentally touching every American household.
In December 2024, President-elect Donald J. Trump nominated Bisignano to serve as the Commissioner of the Social Security Administration. After being confirmed by the U.S. Senate to lead the agency in May 2025, he has taken swift action to transform SSA into a premier service organization that leverages state-of-the-art technology solutions, operates at peak efficiency, and delivers best-in-class service to the American people.
Inspired by the challenges following 9/11, Bisignano became a founding member and board leader of the National September 11 Memorial and Museum and a passionate advocate for veterans and founded the “100,000 Jobs Mission,” a coalition of companies committed to hiring 100,000 U.S. military veterans. He also played a key role as a founding member of the Institute for Veterans and Military Families at Syracuse University, demonstrating his deep commitment to supporting those who have served.
Bisignano attended Baker University of Kansas and has been honored with four honorary PhDs recognizing his contributions to technology and public service. These include honors from Syracuse University for his dedication to veterans and from Howard University for leading the Martin Luther King, Jr. Papers Project, which digitized hundreds of thousands of documents from Dr. King and other civil rights leaders.
CLASS OF 2025 INDUCTEE ENTERPRISE
DAVID BURKE
Fueled by passion, grit, and a knack for artful innovation, David Burke is one of the best-known and most respected chefs in modern American cuisine with his signature whimsical, boundlessly creative approach to food. In addition to being an internationally celebrated chef, Burke is a restaurateur, artist, philanthropist, businessperson, author, educator, art collector, US Patent holder, puppeteer, minister, beekeeper, and a doctor of business administration, honoris causa. David Burke Hospitality Management (DBHM) owns, manages, licenses, and consults with restaurants, hotels, clubs, and schools worldwide. Currently, Burke and his DBHM team operate or orchestrate the culinary component of 13 restaurants and a bakery. They also oversee a growing roster of David Burke-branded products, including cookware, bakeware, steak sauce, cutlery, and wine.
At just 26, Burke’s kitchen mastery won him the executive chef position of New York City’s legendary River Café, where he earned a prestigious three-star review from The New York Times. While at River Café, he became the first (and remains the only) American to win the prestigious Meilleurs Ouvriers de France Diplôme d’Honneur, cementing his status as a leading chef on the global culinary stage. He subsequently won Japan’s Nippon Award for Excellence, and the Robert Mondavi Award of Excellence, all of which earned him a place in James Beard’s Who’s Who of Food and Beverage in America. Burke has been nominated twice for James Beard’s Best Chef and was a familiar face on the popular Top Chef TV show.
After opening several restaurants with the founder of the iconic Smith & Wollensky steakhouse brand, and having established a remarkable reputation, Burke set his sights on growing his brand. The first building block was the highly regarded David Burke & Donatella, which debuted in 2003. He founded a hospitality company that owned and operated numerous award-winning restaurants around the country. It was during this period that Burke gained US patents for several innovations, including his famous Himalayan salt dry aging process for beef.
Burke has continued to expand his restaurant portfolio considerably, while launching a new modern American steakhouse brand, Red Horse by David Burke brand of modern American steakhouses, with three locations.
In New Jersey, where he now has five restaurants and a bakery, he established the David Burke Scholarship at Brookdale Community College, for which his annual $10,000 donation pays the tuition for two students every year.
In addition to growing the national footprint of David Burke’s Dixie Lee Bakery by David with production for mail order, Burke is building out a waterfront restaurant in Palm Beach County; its 2025 debut will signal his entry into the Florida market, beyond what has been his New Jersey, New York, and North Carolina base.
CLASS OF 2025 INDUCTEE ENTERPRISE
LAWRENCE R. INSERRA, JR.
Lawrence R. Inserra, Jr. is Chairman & CEO of Inserra Supermarkets, Inc., one of the largest family-owned and operated supermarket chains in the metropolitan area, which operates ShopRite, Fresh Grocer, and PriceRite Marketplace stores throughout New Jersey and New York.
Inserra Supermarkets has been family-owned for four generations, and the stores have been rooted in the New Jersey community since 1954. Founded by Larry’s grandfather, Patsy Inserra, the first store was located in Lyndhurst, New Jersey. With the entrepreneurial guidance of Larry’s father, the late Lawrence Inserra, the company expanded to 14 ShopRite stores by 1981.
Larry began his career with the company while in high school. Upon graduation from college, he became a store supervisor at the ShopRite of Hillsdale. Larry moved to the corporate office and worked in the Finance Department before being named President of Inserra Supermarkets in 1993. He was named Chairman and CEO of the company in 2015.
Today, under his direction, Inserra Supermarkets Inc. has grown significantly. The company currently employs more than 4,000 associates and continues to invest in current store locations, and has plans to expand their family business with new store openings over the course of the next few years. Inserra Supermarkets currently owns and operates 23 ShopRite Stores, 2 Fresh Grocer Stores, and 2 PriceRite Marketplace stores in Bergen, Hudson, and Passaic Counties in New Jersey and Rockland County and Queens in New York.
Larry is a devoted and passionate steward of his family’s tradition of always lending a helping hand to those in need. Under his leadership, the company continues to expand community partnerships and provides funding and support to hundreds of charitable and local organizations, including hospitals, schools, community wellness programs, and local chapters of civic and veterans’ groups.
The Inserra Family Foundation, established in 1986, has hosted the Carl Inserra Memorial Golf Outing Fundraiser in memory of the late Carl Inserra since its inception. All of the monies raised from the event are donated to national, local and community charitable organizations dedicated to scientific medical research, health and wellness, education and community service.
In addition to his family business and philanthropic accomplishments, Larry provides leadership to a number of community and other business organizations. He currently serves as the Chairman of both the Hackensack Meridian Health Foundation & Hackensack Meridian Health Carrier Clinic. Larry is also a member of the Board of Directors of Wakefern Food Corporation, Commerce and Industry Association of New Jersey, and Ramapo College.
Larry was born in Newark and raised in Rutherford, NJ. He attended Lehigh University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in business and economics. He and his wife Inez reside in Mahwah, NJ.
CLASS OF 2025 INDUCTEE ENTERPRISE
ZYGI WILF
Zygi Wilf is an attorney and partner at Garden Homes, a family real estate development firm headquartered in New Jersey since 1954, that has built more than 100,000 homes and apartments and millions of square feet of retail centers, office buildings, and hotels. Mr. Wilf is also a partner at the Wilf Law Firm, Chairman and Principal Owner of the Minnesota Vikings Football Club LLC., coowner of Orlando City Soccer Club and the Orlando Pride of the National Women’s Soccer League.
Mr. Wilf is in his 20th season as owner/chairman of the Minnesota Vikings and has been instrumental in transforming the organization since the Wilf family purchased the club in 2005. During that time, Wilf and his brother Mark have focused on creating a world-class organization that consistently competes for championships, provides the best fan experience in the NFL, has a positive impact on the community, and grows the game of football. Under the Wilfs’ leadership, the U.S. Bank Stadium was opened in 2016, and in 2018 the Super Bowl was hosted there.
A renowned philanthropist, Mr. Wilf, through the Wilf Family Foundations, has bestowed millions in charitable donations and commitments to support a variety of causes, including Holocaust remembrance, education, arts and cultural organizations, health care, and social service organizations in New Jersey and across the United States. Mr. Wilf sits on a variety of educational and philanthropic boards, including the Albert Einstein College of Medicine and New York Law School, and is a New Jersey Trustee to the National September 11 Memorial and Museum.
Mr. Wilf is the son of Holocaust survivors Elizabeth and the late Joseph Wilf and emigrated from Europe to the U.S. with them in 1950 to settle in New Jersey. He attended Fairleigh Dickinson University and later graduated from New York Law School. He is a member of the New Jersey Bar. Mr. Wilf and his wife Audrey live in Short Hills, NJ, and have four children, their spouses, and 10 grandchildren.
CLASS OF 2025 INDUCTEE
PERFORMING ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
DAVID BRYAN
David Bryan is a Grammy® Awardwinning keyboard player, songwriter, and founding member of Bon Jovi. He is also a Tony Award-winning composer, lyricist and orchestrator. Over the past 42 years, Bon Jovi has sold more than 150 million records and toured the world, playing to millions of people.
He won three 2010 Tony Award’s for Best Score/Lyrics, Best Orchestrations, and Best Musical, for the hit Broadway musical Memphis, as well as a Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Awards for Best Musical.
He and Joe DiPietro have also co-written the award-winning musical The Toxic Avenger and won the Outer Critics Circle Awards for Best Off-Broadway Musical.
David has produced Memphis The Musical cast albums with the original Broadway cast and also The London West End cast.
He also produced The Toxic Avenger cast album.
David and Joe co-wrote DIANA the Musical and debuted on Broadway in 2020. They filmed the musical, which continues to play on Netflix.
Born in Edison, New Jersey, David Bryan began taking piano lessons at the age of seven. He continued this classical study with Emery Hack for thirteen years. He enrolled at Rutgers University, where he continued his musical education (and pre-med studies), preparing him for an audition at the prestigious Juilliard School of Music. When the phone rang with Jon Bon Jovi on the other end saying, “The record company just called. We have a record deal.” The choice was made and the rest is history...
David is a National Spokesperson for VH1’s Save The Music Program. Mrs. Dena Hammerstein appointed David as an Honorary Board Member of Only Make Believe, a program dedicated to the principle that freeing a child’s creative spirit is a valuable part of the healing process.
Photo Credit: David Bergman
CLASS OF 2025 INDUCTEES PERFORMING ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
JONAS BROTHERS
Standing out as one of the most successful groups of the 21st century, Jonas Brothers— Nick Jonas, Joe Jonas, and Kevin Jonas— have sold north of 20 million albums and counting, garnered two GRAMMY® Award nominations, earned 26 Billboard Hot 100 hits, logged three consecutive #1 debuts on the Billboard 200, and generated billions of streams. Among many accolades, they’ve recently claimed a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
In 2019, they notably ignited the comeback of the decade with their Platinum-Certified Republic Records debut, Happiness Begins. It yielded the history-making, 5x-Platinum smash “Sucker,” which minted them as “the first group in the 21st century to debut at #1 on the Hot 100,” exploded as the “longest running #1 Pop Airplay Single of 2019,” and received a GRAMMY® Award nomination in the category of “Best Pop Duo/Group Performance.” Bowing at #1 on the Billboard 200, Happiness Begins impressively scored the “biggest sales week of 2019 at time of release” and housed the Double-Platinum “Only Human” and Platinum “Cool.” The band supported the album with the worldwide “Happiness Begins Tour”—selling over 1.2 million tickets—and the Amazon Original documentaries Chasing Happiness and Happiness Continues. Along the way, the members simultaneously juggled prolific solo careers extending into television, film, and successful business ventures.
In 2023, Jonas Brothers once again proved they are a constant force, embarking on a new era with the release of The Album, via Republic Records. The Album was produced by Jon Bellion and features hit singles “Waffle House” and “Wings.” In support of the new album and this new era for Jonas Brothers, they kicked off “The Tour” with two sold-out shows at New York’s iconic Yankee Stadium. “The Tour” included stadium and arena dates around the globe through 2024, resulting in the band’s biggest and most extensive tour to date.
2025 marks a special year for Jonas Brothers as they celebrate their 20th anniversary as a band. To kick off the year, Jonas Brothers recently released a new single, “Slow Motion,” with producer Marshmello and hosted JONASCON, a special one-day event that took place in their home state of New Jersey in celebration of the band’s incredible two decades. The band is set to release their forthcoming album, Greetings from Your Hometown, on August 8 before kicking off their North American tour at MetLife Stadium on August 10.
CLASS OF 2025 INDUCTEES
PERFORMING ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
THE ISLEY BROTHERS
When it comes to American music, one band stands above all others. The Isley Brothers have left an indelible mark on the industry, influencing everyone from The Beatles to rapper Ice Cube. Paul McCartney once said, “If it wasn’t for the Isley Brothers, The Beatles would still be in Liverpool.” In 2025, they celebrate their 66th anniversary since their first hit “Shout!”—the song that launched a legacy. They are the only group in history to chart on the Billboard charts for eight consecutive decades and remain the most sampled group in music history.
The Isley Brothers began in the mid-1950s as a gospel quartet. Tragically, the band was forced to pause when Vernon Isley died at age 13. The remaining brothers—O’Kelly, Rudolph, and Ronald—moved to New York City in 1957 to pursue rock ’n’ roll. They wrote their breakthrough hit “Shout!,” which continues to be played at celebrations worldwide.
From their debut album in 1959, the Isley Brothers have continuously redefined music with their distinctive sound. They have dominated Black music charts like no other group before or since. Over the years, their lineup has included legends like Jimi Hendrix and Elton John, and their catalog boasts one of the most celebrated runs of albums in R&B history.
Their discography shows unmatched versatility, from the underrated brilliance of Givin’ It Back to the soul-funk classics 3+3 and Go for Your Guns, and the glitter rock gem Brother, Brother, Brother. Their 1975 anthem “Fight the Power (Part 1 & 2)” was later sampled by Public Enemy for their own groundbreaking hit. The Isleys also thrived in the disco era, pioneered quiet storm ballads, and delivered countless romantic slow jams.
Their influence has been recognized with numerous honors. They were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1992, received a Lifetime Achievement Grammy in 2014, and joined the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2022. Their music has been sampled or reimagined by artists including The Notorious B.I.G., Megan Thee Stallion, Drake, and Jay-Z.
In April 2020, they released the feel-good hit Friends & Family featuring Snoop Dogg. In September 2022, they followed with the album Make Me Say It Again Girl, whose title track— featuring Beyoncé—hit No. 1 on the Adult R&B chart for five consecutive weeks, stayed in the top ten for over eight months, and won a Soul Train Award for Best Collaboration. Other collaborators on the album include 2 Chainz, Quavo and Takeoff, Rick Ross, Earth, Wind & Fire, El DeBarge, and Snoop Dogg.
The Isley Brothers are forever living legends. Both Ron and Ernie continue to tour together, thrilling audiences more than six decades after they first taught the world to “Shout.” With a peerless catalog for every mood and era, they remain, in many respects, the most important and influential band in the history of American music.
CLASS OF 2025 INDUCTEE
PERFORMING ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
MICHAEL E. USLAN
Michael Uslan is the award-winning Originator & Executive Producer of the BATMAN movie franchise from 1989's “BATMAN” through "THE DARK KNIGHT," “JOKER,” “THE BATMAN," “THE BATMAN, PART 2," and beyond. Additionally, he is Chairman of The NJ Film Commission and the author of his memoir, "The Boy Who Loved Batman," now being produced as a play by Nederlander Worldwide for Broadway.
CLASS OF 2025 INDUCTEE PUBLIC SERVICE
JOHN P. KEEGAN
Born in Kearny and a lifetime resident of Rumson, John Keegan (“Keegs”) is a true-bred “New Jersey Guy.” He attended St. Stephan’s Grammar School in Kearny, Seton Hall Prep, University of Notre Dame, Georgetown Law School and was an Administrative Fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government.
Since its inception, he has always been a big supporter of the New Jersey Hall of Fame as a member of its Board and Chairman Emeritus. He always says, “The New Jersey Hall of Fame is a testament to the great spirit, ingenuity, and creativity of New Jersey.”
A practicing lawyer in New York and New Jersey for approximately 50 years, he specialized in corporate law, defense litigation, and estate planning, with the highest Martindale Hubbell AV rating.
During his career, he was always with his bride, Diane, who passed away six years ago after 55 years of marriage, and to whom he owes so much as a friend, mother of their five children, and grandmother of sixteen grandchildren.
In addition to being a Eucharistic Minister and a Minister of the Word in the Catholic Church, he was admitted 30 years ago as a Knight of Malta.
Approximately 50 years ago, having served as outside counsel and Vice President, he was elected President, CEO, and Chairman of the Charles Edison Fund, Thomas Edison’s family foundation. Its main mission is to promote educational programs (50%), historic preservation (25%), and medical research (25%). Today, he serves in the same capacity of its sister foundation, the Edison Innovation Foundation.
He helped develop Edison Awards in science and technology, a Pitch Contest for young entrepreneurs to promote new products to be used in commerce to improve the qualitative life of people. Very Edisonlike.
Further, during the past 30 years with the Edison Foundations, he helped develop STEM education programs throughout the United States at the grammar, secondary, college, and graduate school levels, all of which contribute through technology to make new processes and products. Condoleezza Rice added an “A” for Art to make it “STEAM,” all of which is consistent with the New Jersey Hall of Fame education program.
As a former Chair and current member of the Notre Dame Graduate Studies and Research Board for 33 years, he continued his educational experience to improve the Graduate School with emphasis on research and development, a world-wide process created by Thomas Alva Edison, enabling him to be designated by Time Magazine as the “Man of the Millennium.”
As a retired Captain in the United States Army (received the Army Commendation Medal for Meritorious Service during his assignment on the Korean DMZ), he has always been a big supporter of the military, as were Thomas Edison and Charles Edison, the former who served as founder of the Naval Research Board in Virginia and the latter as Secretary of the Navy.
John Keegan lives in the spirit of Thomas Edison’s most famous quote “There is a better way to do it, find it.”
CLASS OF 2025 INDUCTEE PUBLIC SERVICE
LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR
SHEILA Y. OLIVER*
Sheila Y. Oliver served as New Jersey’s 2nd Lieutenant Governor from January 16, 2018, until her passing on August 1, 2023. A selfdescribed “Jersey Girl,” born and raised in an ethnically diverse Newark neighborhood, she was inspired as a young girl to fight for the voiceless when she recognized the societal injustices and inequities around her. She often cited A Tale of Two Cities as her early awakening. Sheila built a successful career in public service, advocating for social justice, women’s equality, and education. In 2017, she became the first woman of color elected to a statewide office in New Jersey. In 2021, she was reelected to a second term.
Along with her duties as Lieutenant Governor, she served as Commissioner of the Department of Community Affairs, leading initiatives to improve affordable housing, community revitalization, homelessness prevention, and services for New Jersey’s 564 municipalities. Under her leadership, the Department expanded efforts to assist distressed communities through programs such as the federal Opportunity Zones tax incentive, Main Street New Jersey, the Neighborhood Preservation Program, the Neighborhood Revitalization Tax Credit program, and the Urban Enterprise Zone Program, which she helped renew in 2021.
As Acting Governor, she signed several key bills into law. These included the creation of a Caregiver Task Force to support those caring for elderly or disabled loved ones, a requirement that public school students in grades 6–8 receive financial literacy education, legislation to strengthen equal pay protections by barring employers from asking about prior salaries, and protections against wage theft. She also signed legislation creating a Restorative and Transformative Justice for Youths and Communities Pilot Program to help divert youth from the juvenile justice system.
Sheila’s career spanned the public, nonprofit, and private sectors, and she taught college courses throughout her life. She served on the East Orange Board of Education and the Essex County Board of Chosen Freeholders. In 2003, she was elected to represent the 34th Legislative District in the New Jersey General Assembly. In 2010, she made history again as the first African American woman in New Jersey to serve as Assembly Speaker, and only the second in U.S. history to lead a state legislative house.
A proud graduate of Newark public schools, she earned her bachelor’s degree cum laude from Lincoln University and a Master of Science in Community Organization, Planning and Administration from Columbia University. She received honorary doctorates from NJIT, Lincoln University, Montclair State, Stockton University, and both Berkeley and Essex County Colleges.
A 40-plus-year resident of East Orange, Sheila cherished her time with her 95-year-old mother, who encouraged her to think critically and serve others through effective policy. She was preceded in death by her father, Charles Clay Oliver Sr., and later by her mother, Jennie Oliver. She is survived by her brother, Charles Clay Oliver Jr., and sister-in-law, Sylvia Oliver; her nieces and nephew/godson—Leah, Charles, and Renee Oliver; and her greatnieces and great-nephews—Jaxson, Kayela, Kaari, Charles (CJ), and Jru. She also leaves behind many beloved relatives and friends.
*Being honored posthumously
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CLASS OF 2025 INDUCTEE PUBLIC SERVICE
WILLIAM EDWARD SIMON*
William E. Simon enjoyed legendary success in American business, public affairs, and government.
Born in Paterson, New Jersey, Mr. Simon served in the U.S. Army before graduating from Lafayette College in 1952. He joined Union Securities and Weeden & Company before becoming partner in charge of the Government and Municipal Bond Departments at Salomon Brothers, where he was a member of the firm’s sevenmember executive committee.
Mr. Simon was appointed Deputy Secretary of the Treasury and the first Administrator of the Federal Energy Office in 1973. In 1974, President Nixon appointed him 63rd Secretary of the Treasury, a post to which he was re-appointed by President Ford.
Following government service, Mr. Simon co-founded Wesray Corporation, a pioneer in mergers and acquisitions, and WSGP International, which concentrated on investments in real estate and financial service organizations. In 1988, he established William E. Simon & Sons, a global merchant bank. Mr. Simon served on the boards of over 30 companies, including Xerox, Citibank, Halliburton, and United Technologies. In recognition of his visionary leadership in finance and public service, the business school at the University of Rochester was renamed the William E. Simon Graduate School of Business Administration in 1986.
Mr. Simon served as Treasurer and later as President of the United States Olympic Committee for the four-year period, which included the 1984 games in Los Angeles. From 1985-1997, he chaired the U.S. Olympic Foundation, created with the profits from the Los Angeles games.
A man of faith and an active Knight of Malta, Mr. Simon considered the opportunity to serve the less fortunate a privilege and responsibility. In the last years of his life, he served as a Eucharistic minister to many destitute and terminally ill patients at several hospitals. In May 1999, he received the Ignatian Medal from Gregorian University in Rome, as well as an honorary doctorate from the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas.
Mr. Simon was a well-known philanthropist and provided hundreds of scholarships for underprivileged students. He served on the boards of numerous colleges and universities and received over 20 honorary degrees.
Mr. Simon was committed to the American heritage of constitutional government and private enterprise. He sought to strengthen this heritage during his 23-year tenure as President of the John M. Olin Foundation and as a trustee of several think tanks, including The Heritage Foundation and the Hoover Institution. He was the author of two best-selling books on the theme of freedom, A Time for Truth (1978) and A Time for Action (1980).
Mr. Simon was married for 45 years to Carol Girard Simon, who died in 1995. He is survived by their seven children and 26 grandchildren. His second wife, Tonia Adams Simon, passed away in 2020.
Mr. Simon’s impact on New Jersey continued long after his death through his eponymous foundation, which supported education, faith, and family programs with concentrations in Morristown and Jersey City. The Simon Foundation closed its doors in 2023 after disbursing nearly $290 million in grants since 1967.
*Being honored posthumously
CLASS OF 2025 INDUCTEE PUBLIC SERVICE
DAVID T. WILENTZ*
David T. Wilentz, Attorney General of New Jersey and prosecutor in the Lindbergh kidnapping case, was born in Lithuania. He was the fourth child of Nathan Wilentz, a tobacco importer, and Bertha Crane.
David came to the United States at age two with his parents, who settled in Perth Amboy, where his father continued the business. One of David’s earliest jobs was delivering tobacco leaf by horse-drawn cart.
He graduated from Perth Amboy High School in 1912. He then worked as a reporter and sports editor for the Perth Amboy Evening News. Simultaneously, he commuted to New York Law School, from which he graduated in 1917. He served in the Army during World War I. In 1919, he married his hometown sweetheart, Lena Goldman.
David returned to Perth Amboy and quickly became involved in Democratic Party politics. By 1928, he was chairman of the Middlesex County Democratic Party. A year later, he fielded a slate of Democrats for county offices. After this, the Democrats had no serious challenge for the next four decades.
It was this stunning swing of the political pendulum that catapulted Wilentz to statewide prominence. In 1934, he was appointed state Attorney General. Wilentz asserted his independence, though, reportedly telling a journalist: “I will accept on one condition. If I take the office I will be no dummy. I have no political or other obligations, and I will accept none imposed on me.”
As Attorney General, he famously prosecuted the 1935 Lindbergh baby kidnapping case. Wilentz, who had never before tried a criminal case, plunged into this one with energy, toughness, and brilliance. The defendant, Bruno Richard Hauptmann, a German immigrant, maintained his innocence to the end. With its massive media coverage and circuslike atmosphere, it was often called the trial of the century. A month and a half after the trial began, Hauptmann was convicted.
Following the trial, “The General,” as he was known after the trial, became a close advisor to several Democratic governors and was instrumental in winning the state for John F. Kennedy in the 1960 presidential election. He also headed the law firm of Wilentz, Goldman and Spitzer, which he founded in Perth Amboy in 1950, and which grew from six partners to a firm of 110 lawyers at the time of his death in 1988.
In the end, David Wilentz never had second thoughts about the Lindbergh case. Pressured by several unsuccessful appeals, at the age of 86 he bridled at a reporter’s calling him “the man who sent Hauptmann to the chair.” “First of all,” he shot back, “I didn’t send him to the chair. A jury did.”
At his funeral in 1988, he was remembered by the people of his hometown as a “wonderful man” who would “get [your] brother a job when he needed one. He didn’t mind giving you a $5 bill – in those days that was like giving you $50.” He loved his cigars and an occasional glass of whiskey. He loved his family and was known by his grandchildren as Poppy.
*Being honored posthumously
CLASS OF 2025 INDUCTEE SPORTS
MARTIN BRODEUR
Martin Brodeur is considered among the best goaltenders in National Hockey League history and one of the best players of all time. He played 22 years in the National Hockey League, 21 of those with New Jersey. He anchored all three of the Devils’ Stanley Cup Championships, leading them to the top of the league in 1995, 2000, and 2003. He backstopped the team to five Eastern Conference titles, and a total of 17 playoff appearances. In 205 career playoff games, Brodeur went 113-91 with a 2.02 GAA and .919 save percentage and posted 24 shutouts. Brodeur’s name is etched throughout the NHL’s record books and he sits atop numerous categories, including: regular season wins (691), single season wins (48, ’06-‘07), overtime wins (69), games played (1,266), games played with a single team (1,260), regular season shutouts (125), playoff shutouts (24), minutes played (74,083), 40-win seasons (8), 30-win seasons (13), shutouts in a playoff campaign (7 in 2003) and shutouts in a Stanley Cup final (tie: 3, in 2003). He is the youngest goalie to reach 300, 400, and 500 career wins, and is the only goalie to reach 600 career wins. During his Devils career, Brodeur was named to the 1994 All-Rookie Team and won the Calder Memorial Trophy for the League’s top first year player; he won the Vezina Trophy as the League’s top goaltender four times; he was awarded the William M. Jennings Trophy for fewest team goals against five times; and was named to the NHL’s First All-Star Team twice and Second All-Star Team four times, appearing in a total of 10 NHL All-Star Games. Brodeur’s legendary career began at the 1990 NHL Entry Draft when the Devils selected him with the 20th overall pick.
Internationally, Brodeur competed for Team Canada in three Olympic Winter Games, winning Gold in 2002 and 2010. In the IIHF World Championships, Brodeur led Team Canada to Silver in 1996 and 2005, while leading his countrymen to the championship title in the 2004 World Cup of Hockey. Brodeur retired from professional hockey on January 29, 2015, after a six-game tenure with the St. Louis Blues.
His No. 30 was retired by New Jersey on February 9, 2016, and he is honored with his statue outside of Prudential Center in Newark. He was named to the NHL’s list of 100 Greatest Players in 2017 and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame on November 12, 2018.
CLASS OF 2025 INDUCTEE SPORTS
HUBIE BROWN
Over the past 75 years, Brown has developed a comprehensive basketball résumé while learning from and teaching some of the game’s legendary figures.
Hubert Jude “Hubie” Brown was born on September 25, 1933, in Hazleton, PA. His family moved to Elizabeth, NJ, when he was three years old. He graduated from St. Mary of the Assumption High School in 1951 (Elizabeth, NJ), where his teams won state championships in football, basketball, and baseball. At Niagara University, Hubie played baseball and basketball for the legendary coach Taps Gallagher and graduated in 1955 with a degree in education. After his time in the U.S. Army, Hubie returned to Niagara and earned a master’s degree in education. He played briefly for the Rochester Colonels of the Eastern Professional Basketball League before the league folded.
Brown’s coaching career started at St. Mary’s Academy (1955-1956) in Little Falls, NY, where he coached basketball and baseball. He spent nine years coaching football, basketball, and baseball at Cranford High School and Fair Lawn High School in New Jersey before entering the college coaching ranks as an assistant coach at William & Mary (19671968) and later at Duke University (1968-1972).
Brown’s professional coaching career started as an assistant coach for the Milwaukee Bucks (1972-1974) and included leading the Kentucky Colonels (1974-1976) to an ABA (American Basketball Association) Championship in 1975; the Atlanta Hawks to three playoff appearances during five seasons (1976-1981); and the New York Knicks to two playoff appearances during five seasons (1982-1987).
After a 16-year absence, while he was working as a television broadcaster with the USA Network, TNT and CBS, he returned to coaching with the Memphis Grizzlies (2002-2004)
During the 2003-04 season, his first full season at the helm, he led the Grizzlies to one of the biggest turnarounds in NBA history, winning 50 games while leading the team to its first-ever playoff berth. Brown was named the NBA’s Coach of the Year, winning the award for the second time in his 15-year NBA coaching career.
Brown joined ABC and ESPN as an NBA analyst after retiring as the coach of the Memphis Grizzlies during the 2004-05 season. On Sunday, February 9, 2025, the 91-year-old Brown, a Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame broadcaster, concluded his legendary career after 35 seasons broadcasting, including 18 NBA Finals.
For just over 50 years, Brown was involved with the NBA as either a coach, clinician, or broadcaster. He was enshrined into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2005, the College Basketball Hall of Fame in 2006, the National Sports Media Hall of Fame in 2022, and the Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame in December 2024.
Brown married Claire Manning in 1960 and remained married to her until her death in 2024. The Brown’s raised a family of three daughters – Molly, Virginia, and Julie, and a son, Brendan.
Photo Credit: ESPN
CLASS OF 2025 INDUCTEE SPORTS
SYDNEY MCLAUGHLIN-LEVRONE
Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone is a three-time Olympian and world record-holding American hurdler and sprinter. She made history at just 16 by qualifying for the 2016 Rio Olympics, becoming the youngest U.S. track and field Olympian since 1972. She has since become one of the sport’s most dominant athletes, winning gold in the 400m hurdles and 4x400m relay at both the Tokyo 2021 and Paris 2024 Olympics—breaking her own world record in the hurdles six times, most recently with a stunning 50.37 seconds in Paris. Sydney’s memoir ‘Far Beyond Gold: Running from Fear to Faith’ was released in 2024, and inspires readers to find strength through faith in God.
A two-time Gatorade National High School Track & Field Athlete of the Year, McLaughlin-Levrone competed at the University of Kentucky before turning pro. Born in Dunellen, New Jersey, she now lives in Los Angeles with her husband, Andre Levrone Jr., and continues to inspire through both her faith and her unmatched accomplishments on the track.
CLASS OF 2025 INDUCTEE UNSUNG HERO
DOROTHEA BONGIOVI
Dorothea Bongiovi has long been committed to helping people in-need, she has supported countless non-profit organizations over the years. From homelessness to poverty, hunger, women’s issues, and healthcare, Dorothea is an activist and has worked in her community to make a positive impact.
In 2011, she and her husband, Jon Bon Jovi, opened the JBJ Soul Kitchen, a non-profit community restaurant that serves both in-need and paying customers. It is not a pay-whatyou-can model, this unique Pay-it-Forward model allows access to healthy, fresh, locally sourced food in a dignified manner, regardless of economic barriers. In-need patrons may volunteer their time as their donation for their meal and learn marketable job skills, or learn about resources and services available to them. The paying customer is asked to pay for their meal and then pay-it-forward by covering the cost of the non-paying customer. The mission of the Soul Kitchen is to treat all with dignity and respect while uniting communities and forming lasting relationships through healthy food. They opened a second restaurant in Toms River, NJ, in 2016, and recently opened a JBJ Soul Kitchen on the campus of Rutgers UniversityNewark to address student food insecurity on college campuses.
Dorothea is a recipient of the NJ and National Jefferson Award for Volunteer Leadership and a 2020 ROBIE Award from the Jackie Robinson Foundation. She is also the recipient of a Silver Stevie Award that recognizes women in leadership roles. Dorothea is the mother of 4 children, Stephanie, Jesse, Jacob, and Romeo.
Photo Credit: Jamel Toppin/The Forbes Collection
CLASS OF 2025 INDUCTEE EDUCATOR OF THE YEAR
DRURY THORP
Drury Thorp is a passionate elementary school teacher with over thirty years of experience. She has a rare gift for capturing students’ attention and develops innovative, inclusive teaching methods that elevate every learner. She creates learning environments where all students feel seen, valued, and inspired. In 2013, she was named Montclair School District Teacher of the Year and is a two-time recipient of the Judy Weston Award for Inspired Teaching, in 2010 and 2023.
A proud fourth-generation New Jerseyan, Drury was raised in Montclair by two esteemed educators. She attended Montclair Public Schools from kindergarten through twelfth grade, excelling both academically and athletically. At Montclair High School, she revived the tradition of academic symposiums and moderated a student-led discussion on U.S.–Soviet relations near the end of the Cold War, featuring Russian diplomats and Nobel Laureate George Wald—an early expression of her lifelong commitment to education and civic engagement.
Drury earned her degree in socio-anthropology and an elementary teaching certificate from Colgate University, followed by a master’s in curriculum and instruction from Nova Southeastern University. A master teacher, she is known for her unwavering dedication and for forging lasting relationships with the hundreds of students she has taught and their families. Her teaching philosophy centers on empowering students to be curious, observant, and creative problem solvers.
Over the course of her career, Drury has secured tens of thousands of dollars in grants to enrich student learning. Among her proudest accomplishments is co-authoring and implementing a grant to establish the Connected Courtyard—a native plant garden, outdoor classroom, and STEM learning center at her school. This space allows students to engage with the natural world and understand the essential role humans play in healing the planet.
Drury is widely known for her creativity and ability to bring required material to life through real-world applications. Her teaching regularly extends beyond the classroom: her classes have video-conferenced with scientists on research expeditions in Antarctica, analyzing data as they study the effects of climate change on whales and penguins. Her students grow produce in a hydroponic greenhouse for themselves and local food pantries, gaining hands-on scientific and civic learning. She recognizes the value of bringing in expert voices and invites community members to share their knowledge and challenge her students to think deeply.
Drury’s energy and enthusiasm are boundless. She has rallied communities around causes ranging from shark conservation to creating safe streets for those using active transportation. As a co-founder of the Montclair Bike Bus, she can be found every Friday leading a long caravan of parents and children joyfully biking to school.
She shares her love of life, learning, and the natural world with her husband—whom she met through their mutual passion for SCUBA diving—and their two daughters. Every time she dives beneath the waves, she is humbled by the planet’s beauty, mystery, and how much we still have to learn.
We are proud to honor Zygi Wilf:
A pillar of society who has devoted his life to the pursuit of excellence and giving back to the community. Your commitment, leadership, and generosity inspire everyone who knows you and all those who benefit from your extraordinary dedication and tireless efforts for the betterment of mankind.
Congratulations on your induction into the New Jersey Hall of Fame!
Love,
Nancy and Larry Pantirer
Betty and Howard Schwartz
Elisa and Alan Pines
Congratulations to the NJ Hall of Fame Class of 2025!
JPMorgan Private Bank congratulates Zygi Wilf and all inductees at the 17th Annual Induction Ceremony.
We’re proud to recognize The New Jersey Hall of Fame for honoring individuals who have made contributions to society and the world beyond.
“JPMorgan
The Werbler Family proudly congratulates ZYGI WILF on his well-deserved induction into the New Jersey Hall of Fame. We are honored to celebrate this honor with him and extend our deepest admiration.
Salute to success
Wilentz,
CONGRATULATIONS TO Martin Brodeur, Michael E. Uslan,
and the
NJ Hall of Fame Class of 2025!
Congratulations to Zygi Wilf and all of the Hall of Fame Inductees!!! It is people like you that make New Jersey a great place to call home. Jeffrey and Jodi Hiller
We are so proud to support Zygi Wilf on this milestone as he is inducted into the New Jersey Hall of Fame.
This is an amazing recognition of your many achievements in the Garden State.
CONGRATULATIONS ZYGI!
from
Garden Communities California
THE NHL CONGRATULATES MARTIN BRODEUR
ON HIS INDUCTION IN THE NEW JERSEY HALL OF FAME
HONOR 2025 NEW JERSEY STATE HALL OF FAME INDUCTEE
Bruce and Hannah Goldman
Dear Zygi,
Best wishes, Judith and Eli Pechthold
CEREMONY ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER
Steve Edwards
DIRECTOR
George Veras
CO-PRODUCERS
Brenda De Santis
David Smith
George Veras
SENIOR EDITOR
Eric Welshenbaugh
FUNDRAISING COMMITTEE
Kevin L. Clayton
Leo T. Ehrline, III
Rocky Halsey
Jon F. Hanson
Rafi Jafri
Ted Knauss
David Munshine
Peter Simon
Gary Taffet
Tammy Uzzell
Finn Wentworth
HOST
American Dream
MEDIA RELATIONS
Princeton Strategic Communications (PSC)
EVENT MANAGEMENT/GROUND TRAVEL COORDINATOR
O’Mealia Signature Events
PHOTOGRAPHER/VIDEOGRAPHER
Gellman Images
CATERER
In Thyme Catering
APPETIZERS & SWEETS
David Burke Hospitality
SIGNAGE
G1 Graphics, David Iommarini & Joseph McGroarty
CEREMONY ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS (CONT.)
THE TEAM AT NEW JERSEY HALL OF FAME AT AMERICAN DREAM
Octavia Adams
Mercy Barragan
Jelena Begonja
Bryan J. Blaney
Brenda De Santis
Leo. T. Ehrline, III
Michael Foti
Alexandra Genova
Rocky Halsey
Eduardo Hernandez
Izaiq Jeanty
Yara Kaleemah
Krishna Leitner
Travis Lewis
Chelaina Joi Mans
Satyrn McLean
Nathaniel Menjivar Llanos
Angel Meqdadi
MC/HOST
Danny DeVito
PERFORMANCES BY David Bryan
John Rzeznik
Michael Pardo
Teah Peters
Jack Pluymers
Gabriel Rocha
Michael Rubin
Perry Simon
Tammy Uzzell
Deanna van Woerkom
Tatiana Yulo
HOUSE BAND/MUSICAL DIRECTOR Glen Burtnik
CEREMONY PRODUCTIONS
2nd Stage Manager – Dave Patterson
A2 – Melanie Schmitz
Associate Producer –Eric Welshenbaugh
Audio Designer/Recording Engineer –Jason Dermer
Audio Systems Tech – Steve Petrak
Communications – MJ Law
Coordinating Production Manager –David Lilling
FOH Audio – Brett Smith
Head Utility – Kevin White
Lead Stage Manager –Anthony McGowan
Lighting Director – Jim Ferrara
Makeup Artist – Alyne Halvajian
Monitor Audio – Joe Vitagliano
Screen Support – See Factor
Tech Manager – Paul Tartar
Teleprompter – Jennifer Marshall
Video Projection – MB Video
Videographer – Dave Emmerling
Voice of God – Marian Marraso
Voiceovers – Randy Thomas
CEREMONY ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS (CONT.)
HEAD LIAISON COORDINATOR
David Smith
ASSISTANT LIAISON COORDINATOR
Tammi Kleszics
SPECIAL THANKS TO THE LIAISON TEAM
CAPTAINS:
Susan Arnold
Aaron Mannella
Jason Nielsen
Kim Pereira
LIAISONS:
Haleigh Abey
Leigh Abey
Linda Abey
Liala Azami
Cy Callaghan
Lindsay Callaghan
Summer Clark
Ray Curtis
Liz Curtis
Naomi Edwards
Shira Edwards
Laura Esteban
Althea Ford
Victoria Giordano
Alexandra Granata
Kathy Hargaden
Ruth Hartnett
Tayler Hedgepeth
Suzanne Heidelberger
Melissa Javier
Alex Krasutsky
Megan Marfiewicz
Sam Marguilis
Jackie Pereira
Megan Pereira
Lauren Price
Briana Reid
Eva Reynolds
Yana Reynolds
Brooke Riley
Jennifer Schuck
Tre Scott
Diana Segarra-Smith
Sara Skurnick
Shane Smith
Tyler Smith
Louis Sterling
Zoe Stokes
Sarah Taffet
Laura Uzzell
Ruth Vogel
Visit, be inspired, and begin your journey toward Garden State Greatness!
BLAST OFF INTO SPACE in Fly Me to the Moon
INTERVIEW MEGA STARS in Late Night Jersey TV
SING WITH MUSIC ICONS on our Karaoke Stage
For hours, directions, and more visit:
4 2 3 5
A
YEAR IN
REVIEW
1. EXTREME EDISON
Celebrated Thomas Edison’s 178th birthday with fun, hands-on experiences for the whole family.
2. AN EVENING WITH HARLAN COBEN
Hosted bestselling author Harlan Coben for an intimate conversation about his latest novel.
3. TUNED IN WITH TONY ORLANDO
Featured Tony Orlando performing live, and even singing with his hologram!
4. NJHOF ONE-YEAR ANNIVERSARY
Marked our first anniversary with exciting activities and family fun for everyone.
5. ¡AZÚCAR! A CELEBRATION IN HONOR OF CELIA CRUZ
Celebrated the music, dance, and culture of salsa in honor of Celia Cruz’s 100th birthday.
FIELD TRIPS
Learn about the New Jersey Hall of Fame field trip opportunities for all students by emailing Learning@NJHallofFame.org.
Interested in sponsoring a field trip for your local schools or an underserved community? Email Sponsorships@NJhalloffame.org.
EVERYDAY HEROES
We are proud to have honored nine individuals as Everyday Heroes. These honorees have made significant and lasting impacts on their communities and are now permanently featured in the Hall of Fame.
Nominate your own hero on our website at NJHOF.ORG.
WE CONGRATULATE THE WINNERS OF THE ARETE SCHOLARSHIP!
Areté is the act of actualizing one’s highest and best sense of self, with a moral excellence of character and for the greater good. It is an ancient Greek philosophy that Plato, Aristotle, and Socrates embraced. The concept encourages individuals to pursue their passions in life and realize their dreams regardless of their circumstances or the adversities that they are likely to face on the path to greatness.
This year’s winners of our annual Areté Scholarship embody the meaning of Areté and we are confident they will distinguish themselves as New Jerseyans who are on their way to realizing their dreams.
Carolyn He
Graduate of the Academy for Mathematics, Science, and Engineering
Carolyn plans to dedicate her education and career to eco-statistics to ensure that climate solutions are rooted in equity, advocating for those who cannot advocate for themselves. Areté motivates her to serve our world’s future, even if it’s generations she may never meet or issues she will never see.
Grant Feldman Graduate of Freehold Township High School
Grant plans to major in business and entrepreneurship, a path that reflects both his passion for creative problemsolving and the early ventures that helped shape who he is. For Grant, Areté is living with integrity, purpose, and a commitment to doing good—with all your heart and soul.
Oluwademilade
Seyi-Idowu
Graduate of Irvington High School
Oluwademilade created the world’s first AI program to diagnose anxiety through voice analysis and offer realtime treatment. She hopes to be a doctor focusing on precision medicine and a journalist. For Oluwademilade, Areté motivates her not to let anyone suppress her dreams.
Margaret Lockman
Graduate of West Windsor-Plainsboro High School South
Margaret plans to study art and education in college to become an art educator. For Margaret, Areté means pursuing the things that make her heart beat faster, the things that make her lose track of time and make her want to put in the work.
WE RECOGNIZE THE WINNERS OF THE
THE NJEA ESSAY CONTEST
Congratulations to the winners of the New Jersey Hall of Fame’s Annual Essay Contest, Who Belongs in the Hall of Fame, in partnership with the New Jersey Education Association (NJEA). The contest is open to all students from 3rd to 11th grade and divided into three grade categories: elementary (grades 3-5), middle school (grades 6-8), and high school (grades 9-11).
Sara Bhandari, Grade 3
Hamilton Primary School, Bridgewater, New Jersey
Sara’s essay highlighted former board of education member Mrs. Stacey Friedlander’s dedication to education, kindness, and helping others, from improving schools and promoting empathy to leading environmental efforts and working with the Volunteer Squad during the COVID pandemic.
Arthur Park, Grade 8
Arthur’s essay focused on Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, a former educator, highlighting his work to reduce crime and his dedication to better education and community empowerment.
Kayla Park, Grade 10
Kayla wrote her essay about Senator Andy Kim, and how his election is more than a political victory—it is a milestone that breaks barriers, inspires future generations, and redefines representation in NJ.
The New Jersey Hall of Fame
Essay Contest is in its 15th year, and the Areté Scholarship is in its 10th. Learn more about all the incredible winners from throughout the years by visiting the New Jersey Hall of Fame at American Dream, where these incredible students are featured in our Everyday Hero Exhibit!
ARE YOU OUR NEXT SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENT?
New Jersey students are invited to APPLY NOW for the 2026 New Jersey Hall of Fame Areté Scholarship and NJEA Essay Contest! Check out exciting updates about this year’s contests below.
ARETÉ SCHOLARSHIP
The New Jersey Hall of Fame is proud to announce the renewal of the Areté Scholarship Fund. This year, thanks to a generous grant from ADP, NJHOF is able to increase both the number of recipients and the scholarship amount, ensuring even greater support for outstanding New Jersey high school seniors graduating in 2026. Scholarship applications and all supporting documentation, including an academic transcript and two letters of recommendation, must be submitted between October 1, 2025 – March 1, 2026, to be considered. Areté Scholarship recipients will be notified by May 15, 2026. Questions and confidential letters of recommendation should be sent to arete@njhalloffame.org.
NJEA ESSAY CONTEST
Who belongs in the New Jersey Hall of Fame? NJ students in grades 3-11 are invited to shape the future of the NJHOF by recommending potential inductees—living or deceased. Nominations can include famous people or even ordinary citizens who do extraordinary things in New Jersey. Students should research or interview (if possible) the person they wish to nominate and write an essay no longer than 500 words. Three categories for submission exist: Grades 3-5, Grades 6-8, and Grades 9-11. The winner of each category will receive a $500 prize.
For questions, please email
Stephanie L. Natera-Smith at snatera@njea.org
Submit your essay online at njea.org/nj-hall-of-fame-essay-contest
