NJ Hall of Fame
Gloria Gaynor- Performing Arts
Born into a musical household in Newark, New Jersey, Gloria Gaynor has been singing for as long as she can remember. She had many disco era hits, including “I Will Survive” (1978), “Let Me Know (I Have a Right)” (1979), and “I Am What I Am” (1983).
Buddy Valastro- Enterprise
Baker and reality television personality Bartolo “Buddy” Valastro was born in Hoboken, New Jersey. He is the owner of Carlos’ Bakery, which is the main subject of the TLC television series Cake Boss.
Al Leiter- Sports
A native of Berkeley Township, New Jersey, Al Leiter is a former professional baseball left-handed starting pitcher. He pitched 19 seasons in Major League Baseball for the New York Yankees, Toronto Blue Jays, Florida Marlins, and the New York Mets. He is formerly a color commentator for the YES Network and 2016 Marlins Fox Sports Florida game analyst. Leiter is currently an advisor for baseball operations with the NY Mets and a studio analyst for MLB Network.
Harlan Coben- Arts and Letters
With more than seventy-five million books in print worldwide, Harlan Coben is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of numerous suspense novels, including The Boy from the Woods, Run Away, Don’t Let Go, Home, and Fool Me Once, as well as the multi-award-winning Myron Bolitar series. He is also the creator and executive producer of many television shows, including several critically acclaimed Netflix Original drama series including The Stranger starring Richard Armitage, Safe starring Michael C. Hall and The Woods from Netflix Poland. Coben is developing 14 projects with Netflix in the US and internationally, including original series in Spain (The Innocent), France (Gone for Good), the UK (Stay Close) and the USA (Six Years).
Steven Van Zandt- Performing Arts
This Middletown Township, New Jersey native is a singer, songwriter, musician, producer, actor, activist, and author. He is best known for playing guitar and mandolin in Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band. He appears in several television drama series, starring as Silvio Dante in The Sopranos (1999–2007) and as Frank Tagliano in Lilyhammer (2012–2014). Since the 1980s, he has produced music through his own solo band called Little Steven and the Disciples of Soul.
Millicent Fenwick- Public Service
Fenwick represented New Jersey for four terms as a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives from 1983-1987, and she was outspoken about civil rights and the women’s movement. She spent her last years at home in Bernardsville, New Jersey.
