Dan Cirucci: New Jersey Hall Of Fame Inducts 2024 Group

Monday, November 25, 2024

New Jersey Hall Of Fame Inducts 2024 Group

On the heels of opening the New Jersey Hall of Fame at American Dream, the New Jersey Hall of Fame (NJHOF) announces its next class of Jersey greats.

The list of 21 Inductees includes Actress Meryl Streep, Actor Paul Rudd, Founder and CEO of Jersey Mike’s Subs Peter Cancro, former NY Giants Quarterback Phil Simms, and Singer-Songwriter Lesley Gore.

The Inductees were honored at the 16th Annual New Jersey Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony. This year’s ceremony was a pre-taped television special on location at the 10,000-square-foot New Jersey Hall of Fame at American Dream and other Hall of Fame satellite exhibits. The ceremony was on Fox 5 My9 and social media. There will be dozens of inductee events open to the public throughout the year on inductee birthdays, beginning as early as this summer.

“The 2024 class of Inductees of the New Jersey Hall of Fame illustrate the New Jersey ethic of hard work, determination, and grit,” said Jon F. Hanson, Chairman of the NJHOF. “We are thrilled to celebrate the contributions of 21 new Inductees so future generations can learn about their journeys.”

The New Jersey Hall of Fame Class of 2024 is:

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

*Being honored posthumously.

**Previous Inductee, but being formally inducted this year.

The 21 Inductees were chosen from 50 nominees after a public vote. The Hall of Fame reserves the right to announce other Inductees at a later time.

ABOUT THE NJHOF: Because everyone needs a hero, the New Jersey Hall of Fame (NJHOF) honors citizens who have made invaluable contributions to society, the State of New Jersey and the world beyond. 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. The NJHOF endeavors to present school children with significant and impactful role models to show that they can, and should, strive for excellence. The NJHOF is thankful for the support of its many sponsors, like Hackensack Meridian Health, without which none of our endeavors would be possible. For more information, go to www.njhalloffame.org.

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About Dan Cirucci

He's been cited by the late Rush Limbaugh, quoted in the New York Times, featured at Real Clear Politics and Lucianne.com and interviewed across all media.

He's Dan Cirucci, the founder and editor-in chief of the Dan Cirucci Blog, a Save Jersey blog columnist, frequent guest on the Matt Rooney radio show and one of the most widely honored public relations professionals in his field. He's also been a public relations consultant to numerous organizations and individuals and hosted The Advocates on RVN-TV.

Inducted into the Philadelphia Public Relations Hall of Fame, for many years he served as a Lecturer in Corporate Communication at Penn State University. A former President of the Philadelphia Public Relations Association (PPRA) he has lectured at Rowan University, Temple University, The College of New Jersey and Arcadia University. He has conducted workshops on public relations for thousands of participants throughout the nation and has taught countless others the art of public speaking. He has also advised numerous lawyers, judges, public officials and political candidates.

Cirucci is a prolific writer and his op-ed pieces have appeared in the Philadelphia Daily News, Philadelphia Inquirer, Courier-Post, Broad and Liberty and other print and online platforms.

A native of Camden NJ, Cirucci is a former President of the Philadelphia chapter of the International Association of Business Communicators. Cirucci served as Associate Executive Director of the Philadelphia Bar Association for nearly 30 years. He served as Chair of Penn State University's Professional Advisory Board for the Corporate Communication major at Penn State Abington and on the Pennsylvania Bar Association's Judicial Selection Commission.

He received his MA degree from Rowan University and his BA from Villanova University. He has been named a Distinguished Alumnus of Rowan's public relations program and received the E. A. "Wally" Richter Leadership Award, the highest honor from the National Association of Bar Executives' Communications Section. He has also been honored by numerous other local, state and national groups.

In his hometown of Camden, Cirucci taught fifth grade at the Ulysses Wiggins Elementary School named for the founder of the Camden NAACP. There he was one of the first teachers in the country to teach African-American history to inner city students. He later served as editor of a local weekly newspaper, as Assistant to the Township Manager of Cherry Hill Township and as Associate Director of Communications at the New Jersey State Bar Association.

Cirucci's passions include all things Italian, politics, the popular culture, books and authors, art, communication, music, theatre, movies, dining and travel.

He and his wife Carole have two grown children and seven grandchildren.

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