Dan Cirucci: NJ Hall Of Fame Announces 2026 Inductees

Thursday, June 25, 2026

NJ Hall Of Fame Announces 2026 Inductees

As America celebrates 250 years of independence, the New Jersey Hall of Fame announces its next class of Jersey legends whose accomplishments have shaped the world as we know it. The list of 13 inductees includes:

Arts & Letters

Big Joe Henry, “Livin’ Large and Lovin’ Life” New Jersey radio personality and philanthropist

Education, Research, Engineering & Science

Geraldine R. Dodge*, author, philanthropist, and benefactor of the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation
Thomas M. Eastwick, Founder and President of Eastwick College and the HoHoKus School of Trade and Technical Sciences

Enterprise

James E. Burke*, Former CEO of Johnson & Johnson
Robert C. Garrett, CEO of Hackensack Meridian Health, New Jersey’s largest health network
Christopher J. Paladino, President of New Brunswick Development Corporation (DEVCO)

Performing Arts & Entertainment

The Rascals, American rock band known for top-chart hits including “Groovin”
SZA, Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter and Academy Award nominee

Public Service

Donald Milford Payne Sr.*, New Jersey’s first African American elected to Congress
Governor Christine Todd Whitman, writer, former Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and New Jersey's 50th Governor

Sports

Dr. John J. McMullen*, Former owner of the New Jersey Devils and Houston Astros
Lawrence Taylor, Former New York Giants linebacker for 13 seasons

Unsung Hero

Tom Weatherall, President & CEO of Make-A-Wish^® New Jersey

*Being honored posthumously.

Read the Full Announcement

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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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