By JOSEPH SAPIA
A dozen New Jerseyans — including two with Monmouth County connections, NBC Nightly News anchor Brian Williams and the late writer Dorothy Parker — will be inducted in the New Jersey Hall of Fame Nov. 13 in Asbury Park.
Performing at the 7 p.m. ceremony at Conventional Hall will be singer Dionne Warwick, who was inducted last year. It is the first time the ceremony will be held in the city.
This year’s inductees are:
— Williams, born in 1959, who grew up in Middletown.
— Parker, 1893 to 1967, a member of the famed Algonquin Round Table of writers. She lived in Long Branch.
— Howard Katz, born in 1949, senior vice president of broadcasting and media operations for the National Football League. He has lived in Livingston.
— Alice Waters, born in 1944, a chef. She has lived in Chatham.
— Dizzy Gillespie, 1917 to 1993, the famed jazz musician. He lived in Englewood. (Pictured above; Wikipedia photo.)
— James Gandolfini, 1961 to 2013, who starred in “The Sopranos” television series. He lived in Westwood and Park Ridge.
— The Shirelles singing group from Passaic.
— James Florio, born in 1937, former governor and congressman. He has lived in Camden and Metuchen.
— Peter J. McGuire, 1852 to 1906, a union leader and a force behind Labor Day as a national holiday and the five-day, 40-hour work week. He lived in Camden.
— Elizabeth Cady Stanton, 1850 to 1902, leader in the women’s right movement and opponent of slavery. She lived in Tenafly.
— Patrick Ewing, born in 1962, college, Olympic and professional basketball player. He has lived in Englewood Cliffs.
— Maud Dahme, born in 1935, a member of the state Commission on Holocaust Educations and a former member of the state Board of Education. She has lived in Flemington.
“The New Jersey Hall of Fame honors citizens who have made invaluable contributions to society and the world beyond,” according to the hall’s website, njhalloffame.org.
“…The Hall of Fame reinforces the message to children that they can and should strive for excellence in any endeavor of their choosing.”
Beginning with its first group in 2008, the hall has inducted about 80 members.
