PUBLIC NEW JERSEY

This category is for New Jerseyans who have made their mark in the public eye, whether through politics, law, space exploration or whatever.

Charles Addams - b. 1912 d. 1988
Westfield, NJ
Cartoonist known for his macabre work in the New Yorker. His Addams Family cartoon was made into a television series and several big screen movies.


Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin - b. 1930
Montclair, NJ
Born in Montclair, Aldrin became a fighter pilot in the Korean War, entering NASA's space program in 1963. He is best known as the second human (Neil Armstrong was first) to set foot on the moon.

Samuel A. Alito, Jr. - b. 1950
Trenton, NJ
The latest New Jerseyan to be named to the US Supreme Court.

John Basilone - b. 1916 d. 1945
Raritan, NJ
Born in Buffalo, NY, Basilone grew up in Raritan. He was an extensively-decorated Marine in World War 2, including the Medal of Honor, the highest military decoration. He died in action at Iwo Jima, and is buried at Arlington National Cemetery.
Thanks to numerous visitors for this suggestion.

William Brennan - b. 1906 d. 1997
Newark, NJ
US Supreme Court justice. Nominated by President Eisenhower in 1956, Brennan retired in 1990 due to ill health. One of the court's most liberal justices, only Justice William O. Douglas wrote more opinions.

Aaron Burr - b. 1756 d. 1836
Newark, NJ
Rising to the office of Vice President of the United States, Burr is perhaps best known for his 1804 duel with Alexander Hamilton in Weehawken, New Jersey, in which Hamilton was fatally wounded.

Grover Cleveland - b. 1837 d. 1908
Caldwell, NJ
Only President to serve 2 non-consecutive terms, becoming the United States' 22nd and 24th Presidents. Lived in retirement in Princeton, New Jersey, where he is buried. His birthplace is still standing and is a museum.

Samuel Colt - b. 1814 d. 1862
Paterson, NJ
Born and died in Connecticut, Samuel Colt invented the multi-shot revolver that bears his name, opening the Patent Arms Manufaturing Company that produced the gun in Paterson in 1836.

Theodore Draper (Word document) - b. 1912 d. 2006
Princeton, NJ
Born Theodore Dubinsky in Brooklyn, Draper moved to Princeton in the 1960s. A well-known combative historian and fiery social critic. Wrote many books, which you can find on Barnes & Noble or Amazon.

Andrea Dworkin - b. 1946 d. 2005
Camden, NJ
A radical feminist and writer, known for her impassioned belief in social justice.

Thomas A. Edison - b. 1847 d. 1931
West Orange, NJ
Born in Ohio, Edison did his most important work in Menlo Park and West Orange, both in New Jersey. The laboratory in West Orange is a national monument.

Albert Einstein - b. 1879 d. 1955
Princeton, NJ
Born in Germany, Einstein was in California in 1933 when Adolf Hitler came to power in Germany. Einstein never returned to Germany, and instead settled in Princeton, NJ, where he died in 1955.

Louis Freeh - b. 1950
Jersey City, NJ
The 10th Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), from 1993 to 2001.
Thanks to Edward Ohlbaum for this suggestion.

Milton Friedman - b. 1912 d. 2006
Rahway, NJ
Born in New York City, Friedman's parents moved to Rahway when he was a year old. A Nobel Prize winner in Economics (1976), he received his undergraduate degree from Rutgers University in New Jersey.

Michael Graves - b. 1934
Princeton, NJ
Born in Indianapolis, Graves is a well-known architect and Professor of Architecture at Princeton University.
Thanks to Katrina for this suggestion.

Admiral William "Bull" Halsey - b. 1882 d. 1959
Elizabeth, NJ
Five star Navy admiral during World War II, Halsey is one of only five men in American history to hold the title of 5-star Fleet Admiral.
Thanks to Mike P. of Venice Beach, FL.

Garret A. Hobart - b. 1844 d. 1899
Long Branch, NJ
Elected Vice President with President William McKinley in 1896. Hobart's death in 1899 left a spot on the ticket for Teddy Roosevelt as Vice President upon McKinley's re-election in 1900.

Toomas Hendrik Ilves - b. 1953
Leonia, NJ
Born in Stockholm, Sweden, Ilves is the current (2008) president of Estonia, and graduated from leonia High School.
Thanks to Irene Kuhn for this suggestion.

George Lakoff - b. 1941
Bayonne, NJ
Author, professor of cognitive linguistics at UC Berkeley and Fellow at the Rockridge Institute.
Thanks to Jersey Guy for this suggestion.

Charles A. Lindbergh - b. 1902 d. 1974
Flemington, NJ
Born in Minnesota, Lindbergh was the first person to fly solo and non-stop across the Atlantic Ocean. Unfortunately, Lindbergh's connection to New Jersey is for the trial of Bruno Richard Hauptmann who was tried and executed for the kidnaping and murder of Lindbergh's infant son.

Clara Maass - b. 1876 d. 1901
East Orange, NJ
Worked as an Army nurse during the Spanish-American War, died at the age of 25 while participating in studies to understand Yellow Fever. The US Postal Service issued a stamp in her honor on the 100th Anniversary of her birth.
Thanks to Brian for this suggestion.

Annie Oakley - b. 1860 d. 1926
Nutley, NJ
Born in Ohio, "Little Sure Shot" is perhaps the greatest woman marksperson ever. Living quite an unconventional life, Annie and her husband owned a home in Nutley and resided there in between her shows. The house has since been demolished. Annie inspired the well-known musical "Annie Get Your Gun".

Alice Paul - b. 1885 d. 1977
Mt. Laurel, NJ
Alice Stokes Paul was born to Quaker parents on a farm, Paulsdale in Mt. Laurel, NJ. Paul was a key figure in the passage of the 19th Amendment granting women the right to vote. She authored the Equal Rights Amendment in 1923, initiated the inclusion of gender equality in the United Nations Charter and led a coalition that suceeded in adding equal gender rights to Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act. She died at the age of 92 in Moorestown, NJ.
Thanks to Kris Myers at the Alice Paul Institute.

Zebulon Pike - b. 1779 d. 1813
Lamberton, NJ
Soldier and explorer, Pikes Peak in Colorado is named after him.

Mark Polansky - b. 1956
Edison, NJ
Born in Paterson, raised in Edison, Commander Polansky has served as a captain on the space shuttle.

Garrett E. Reisman - b. 1968
Parsippany, NJ
Born in Morristown and raised in Parsippany, Dr. Reisman is an astrounaut, and a member of the international space station crew.

Peter Rodino - b. 1909 d. 2005
Newark, NJ
Served in Congress for 40 years, presiding over the House impeachment hearings of President Richard Nixon in 1973 and 1974.

Ida Rosenthal - b. 1886 d. 1973
Bayonne, NJ
Born in Minsk, Belarus, Ida Rosenthal emigrated to America at age 18 and opened a dress shop named Maiden Form. She is generally credited with the invention of the modern brassiere.

Carl Sagan - b. 1934 d. 1996
Rahway, NJ
Born in New York City, Sagan - a world-reknowned astronomer - graduated from Rahway High School. Sagan made many contributions to science, and is perhaps best known for hosting the television series "Cosmos" and as founder of The Planetary Society.
Thanks to Theresa for this suggestion.

Antonin Scalia - b. 1936
Trenton, NJ
US Supreme Court justice. Grew up on Long Island, nominated by President Reagan in 1986, one of the most conservative justices.

H. Norman Schwarzkopf - b. 1934
Trenton, NJ
Son of the founder of the New Jersey State Police, General Schwarzkopf was commander of American Forces in the Persian Gulf War in 1990-91

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Russell "Rusty" Schweikart - b.1935
Neptune, NJ
Astronaut, the Lunar Module Pilot on the Apollo 9 mission.
Thanks to Matt McKay for this suggestion.

Walter Schirra - b. 1923 d. 2007
Hackensack, NJ
Raised in Englewood, New Jersey, Schirra was one of the original Mercury 7 astronauts. Schirra was the only one who flew in all 3 pioneering space programs, Mercury, Gemini and Apollo.

Dr. James Still - b. 1812 d. 1882
Medford, NJ
Dr. Still was a physician in the Pine Barrens of New Jersey in the early years of the US. He penned an autobiography, which I have yet to read. A true NJ pioneer. Family info here.

John Taylor - b. 1836 d. 1909
Hamilton Square, NJ
The developer of a New Jersey delicacy, Pork Roll, the most famous brand of which is Taylor Ham. If you can't find it in your local market, you can purchase pork roll online from several sellers, after conducting a simple Google search.
Thanks to Dave B. for this suggestion. Now, what's for dinner?

Gertrude Tompkins - b. 1912 d. 1944
Jersey City, NJ
Born in the JC, and grew up in Summit. The only still-missing WASP aviator from WW2. She was ferrying a P-51 Mustang from LA to the East Coast to be sent to the European Theater when she went missing. Give a thought for "Tommy" and her family, and the Rescue Squad still looking for her.

Alice Waters - b. 1944
Chatham, NJ
One of the best known and most influential chefs in the United States. Credited with creating a culinary revolution in the 1970s. Founder and owner of Chez Panisse in California.
Thanks to Johnny for this suggestion.

Brian Williams - b. 1959
Middletown, NJ
Born in New York, Williams moved to New Jersey with his family while in fifth grade. The anchor for NBC Nightly News graduated from high school in Red Bank and also was a volunteer firefighter in New Jersey.
Thanks to Tim Pascucci for this suggestion.

Woodrow Wilson - b. 1856 d. 1924
Princeton, NJ
Born in Virginia, Wilson graduated from Princeton University and become Princeton president from 1902-1910. Wilson then became governor of New Jersey from 1911 to 1913 before becoming the 28th President of the United States from 1913 to 1921.

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