N.J. Hall of Fame’s latest class includes Bowden, Kalafer, many others
August 05, 2020The New Jersey Hall of Fame has announced its Class of 2019-20, and it includes some of the biggest names in the state’s business community.
The Hall of Fame’s 12th annual induction ceremony will be held virtually Oct. 18.
Among those who will be enshrined are PNC Bank executive Linda Bowden and Flemington Car and Truck Family of Brands founder Steve Kalafer.
Others honored in the “Enterprise” category include the Borg family, former owners and publishers of the (Bergen) Record newspaper; Fairleigh Dickinson, co-founder of Becton Dickinson and the benefactor of the university that bears his name; and Joseph Simunovich, former chairman of the New Jersey Turnpike Authority.
Other noteworthy Jerseyans in the class with business connections include longtime Star-Ledger editor Mort Pye in the Arts & Letters category; former St. Joseph’s Health CEO Sister Jane Brady and famed economist Milton Friedman in the Public Service category; and former Rutgers Athletic Director Robert Mulcahy III in the Sports category.
“These Garden State heroes perfectly represent what makes our state great,” Jon Hanson, chairman of the hall, said in a prepared statement. “It’s our privilege to honor these inductees for their outstanding contributions to our state.”
Actors Ed Harris and Anne Hathaway, former Gov. Alfred Driscoll and Rutgers women’s basketball coach Vivian Stringer are also in the class.
The Unsung Hero award will be announced in early October, the hall said.
Overall, the class includes 29 inductees. The full list:
- Arts & Entertainment: Danny Aiello, actor; John Amos, actor; Mary Chapin Carpenter, singer-songwriter; Ed Harris, actor; Anne Hathaway, actor; Cissy Houston, singer; Ernie Kovacs, comedian; the Nelson family, actors and musicians; Flip Wilson, comedian;
- Arts & Letters: Charles Addams, cartoonist; Stephen Crane, author; Joyce Kilmer, poet; Fran Lebowitz, author; Mort Pye, newspaper editor;
- Enterprise: The Borg family, newspaper publishers; Linda Bowden, banking executive; Fairleigh Dickinson, businessman and philanthropist; Steve Kalafer, auto dealership executive; Joseph Simunovich, chairman of New Jersey Turnpike Authority;
- Public Service: Dr. Virginia Apgar, anesthesiologist; Sister Jane Brady, health care executive; Gen. Martin Dempsey, chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff; Alfred Driscoll, 43rd governor of New Jersey; Milton Friedman, economist;
- Sports: Rick Barry, basketball player; Gerry Cooney, boxer; Eli Manning, football player; Robert Mulcahy III, Rutgers athletic director; Vivian Stringer, Rutgers women’s basketball coach.