Editing Ridgefield Park, New Jersey (section)

==Notable people==
{{Category see also|People from Ridgefield Park, New Jersey}}
People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Ridgefield Park include:

{{div col}}
* [[Joan M. Clark]] (born 1922), former [[United States Ambassador to Malta]]<ref>[http://www.reagan.utexas.edu/archives/speeches/1981/61681a.htm "Nomination of Joan M. Clark To Be Director General of the Foreign Service"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131218151734/http://www.reagan.utexas.edu/archives/speeches/1981/61681a.htm |date=December 18, 2013 }}, [[Ronald Reagan Presidential Library]], June 16, 1981. Accessed December 14, 2013. "Miss Clark resides in Washington, D.C. She was born March 27, 1922, in Ridgefield Park, N.J."</ref>
* [[Richard Easterlin]] (1926–2024), professor of economics at the [[University of Southern California]], best known for the economic theory named after him, the [[Easterlin paradox]]<ref>[http://www.populationassociation.org/sidebar/paa-fund-campaign/honored-members/richard-a-easterlin/ Richard A. Easterlin], [[Population Association of America]]. Accessed November 15, 2017. "Richard Easterlin was born in Ridgefield Park, New Jersey, in 1926 and studied engineering at the Stevens Institute of Technology, where he earned an ME degree with distinction in 1945."</ref>
* [[Alex Gaston]] (1893–1979), MLB catcher who played for the [[History of the New York Giants (baseball)|New York Giants]] and [[Boston Red Sox]]<ref>Nowlin, Bill. [http://sabr.org/bioproj/person/161cbd60 "Alex Gaston"], [[Society for American Baseball Research]]. Accessed November 14, 2016. "His high school was Ridgefield Park in New Jersey, the community where Milt was born. At the time of the 1900 and 1910 censuses, the family lived in Overpeck, Bergen County, New Jersey."</ref>
* [[Milt Gaston]] (1896–1996), right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball from 1924 to 1934<ref>Nowlin, Bill. [http://sabr.org/bioproj/person/239d1bf7 "Milt Gaston"], [[Society for American Baseball Research]]. Accessed November 14, 2016. "Nathaniel Milton Gaston was born on January 27, 1896, in Ridgefield Park, New Jersey.... The family lived in Overpeek, Bergen County, New Jersey. Milt attended a number of schools in New York City and New Jersey, and completed one year of high school at Ridgefield Park, but then left school and went to work."</ref>
* [[Jimmy Gnecco]] (born 1973), musician from the band [[Ours (band)|Ours]]<ref>Spelling, Ian. [http://www.northjersey.com/arts_entertainment/music/94395414_Bogota_man_sings_from__The_Heart_.html?page=all "Ours lead singer Jimmy Gnecco will perform in Manhattan"], ''[[The Record (North Jersey)|The Record]]'', May 20, 2010. Accessed August 15, 2012. "Gnecco – who was born in Teaneck, raised in Ridgefield Park and lives in Bogota — plays every instrument on the album, which includes such songs as 'Rest Your Soul,' 'Take a Chance,' 'Mystery' and the title track."</ref>
* [[Leonard W. Hatton Jr.]] (1956–2001), [[special agent]] of the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation]] who was killed in the [[September 11 terrorist attacks]] on the [[World Trade Center (1973-2001)|World Trade Center]] when he entered one of the towers to help evacuate the occupants and stayed when the [[Collapse of the World Trade Center|towers collapsed]]<ref>Calderone, Joe; and Zambito, Thomas. [http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/news/farewell-fbi-bomb-expert-father-4-article-1.934822 "Farewell To FBI Bomb Expert And Father of 4"], ''[[New York Daily News]]'', October 1, 2001. Accessed November 15, 2017. "Son of a cop, Hatton starred as halfback on the Ridgefield Park football team, married his high school sweetheart and took the only job he'd ever wanted, as an agent with the FBI. His work took him to New Orleans for years, but, after being assigned to the Joint Bank Robbery Task Force in New York, he returned to Ridgefield Park.... On Saturday, as strains of an Elton John song filtered through the church, Hatton's Ridgefield Park class, members of the Class of '75, wiped away tears."</ref>
* [[John Huchra]] (1948–2010), astronomer<ref>[[Dennis Overbye|Overbye, Dennis]]. [https://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/14/us/14huchra.html "John Huchra Dies at 61; Maps Altered Ideas on Universe"], ''[[The New York Times]]'', October 13, 2010. Accessed August 19, 2013. "John Peter Huchra was born on Dec. 23, 1948, in Jersey City and grew up in Ridgefield Park, N.J., reading science fiction and popular cosmological books."</ref>
* [[James Gordon Irving]] (1913–2012), commercial illustrator and painter, best known for illustrating the early [[Golden Guide]] series of nature books<ref>Fandrich, Leslie. [https://issuu.com/uppercaseyyc/docs/uppercase15?printButtonEnabled=false&backgroundColor= "The Golden Nature of James Gordon Irving"], ''[[Uppercase magazine]]'', Issue 15, Fall 2012. Accessed May 14, 2016. "Gordon was born June 2, 1913, in Ridgefield Park, New Jersey, just a few miles from the home he has lived in for the past 60 years."</ref>
* [[Jim Keogh (technology writer)|Jim Keogh]] (born 1948), author of nearly 100 books sold worldwide introduced PC programming nationally in his ''[[Popular Electronics]]'' magazine column in 1982<ref>Keogh, Jim. [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/106016366/jim-keogh-of-ridgefield-park/ "Rumors about teachers take on a life of their own"],''[[The Record (North Jersey)|The Record]]'', September 13, 1994. Accessed July 21, 2022, via [[Newspapers.com]]. "Jim Keogh Is a member of the Ridgefield Park school board and an evening professor in the computer science department at St Peter's College, Jersey City."</ref>
* [[Louis F. Kosco]] (born 1932), politician who served in both the [[New Jersey General Assembly]] and the [[New Jersey Senate]]<ref>[https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=sites&srcid=ZGVmYXVsdGRvbWFpbnxyaWRnZWZpZWxkcGFya2FsdW1uaXxneDo0MzU5NTE5NjYxOTVjOTNm Louis Kosco Class of 1950], Ridgefield Park Junior-Senior High School Alumni Foundation. Accessed November 15, 2017. "Senator Louis Kosco attended Lincoln School and was a member of the class of 1950 at Ridgefield Park High School."</ref>
* [[Robert A. Lewis]] (1917–1983), co-pilot of the [[Enola Gay]]<ref>Cowen, Richard. [http://www.northjersey.com/community/Humble_hero_of_the_atomic_age_Passaic_retailer_helped_deliver_the_bomb.html "Humble hero of the atomic age: Passaic retailer helped deliver 'the bomb'"], ''[[The Record (North Jersey)|The Record]]'', August 9, 2013. Accessed August 19, 2013. "Robert Lewis, the co-pilot of the Enola Gay, was a Ridgefield Park High School graduate."</ref><ref name=AlumniHistory>Fosdick, George. [http://www.ridgefieldpark.org/village_alumnihist.html History of Ridgefield Park High School], Ridgefield Park Jr. / Sr. High School Alumni Association. Accessed August 19, 2013. "Among those who rose to national prominence are Ozzie Nelson '23, a radio and television performer who often mentioned his RPHS experiences on his radio and television programs. Bud Lewis '37 was the co-pilot of the Enola Gay Aircraft which dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima, leading to the end of World War II, a war in which over 1,000 RPHS graduates served."</ref>
* [[George Lowe (baseball)|George Lowe]] (1895–1981), [[relief pitcher]] who appeared in a single game for the [[Cincinnati Reds]] during the 1920 season<ref>[https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/l/lowege01.shtml George Lowe], [[Baseball-Reference.com]]. Accessed December 14, 2013.</ref>
* [[Bobby Messano]] (born 1954), artist, guitarist and musician<ref>Ross, Rob. [http://popdose.com/album-review-bobby-messano-welcome-to-deltaville/ "Album Review: Bobby Messano, ''Welcome To Deltaville''], popdose.com, July 31, 2014. Accessed November 15, 2017. "Ridgefield Park, New Jersey native (and current Nashville resident) Bobby Messano steps up to the front of the line with his newest release on Marty Scott's JEM Recordings, Welcome To Deltaville. 10 slices of heavy blues that definitely make their mark."</ref>
* [[Dick Messner]] (1907–1972), band leader who led a [[Swing music|sweet-styled]] dance orchestra bearing his name from about 1938 to about 1942.<ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/113990634/dick-messner-of-ridgefield-park/ "Kiwanians Hear Program Given By Bandleader; Dick Messner Entertains Park-Teaneck Club At Meeting"], ''[[The Record (North Jersey)|The Record]]'', October 4, 1935. Accessed December 2, 2022, via [[Newspapers.com]]. "Dick Messner of Ridgefield Park, leader of the famed Messner Brothers orchestra, was guest yesterday of the Ridgefield Park-Teaneck Kiwanis Club at Its weekly luncheon meeting at Bernhardt's Inn, Teaneck."</ref>
* [[Johnny Messner (musician)|Johnny Messner]] (1909–1986; class of 1928), [[bandleader]], [[composer]], [[saxophonist]] and [[vocalist]] during the [[big band]]/[[swing (genre)|swing]] heyday<ref>Staff. [https://books.google.com/books?id=iQwEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PT14 "Messner Into Army"], ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'', February 12, 1944. Accessed November 15, 2017. "Johnny Messner, the master of Ridgefield Park, N. J. and the maestro at McAlpin's Marine Grill for so many years, enters the army March 21."</ref>
* [[Ozzie Nelson]] (1906–1975), actor<ref name=AlumniHistory/><ref>via [[Associated Press]]. [https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=3sQ_AAAAIBAJ&sjid=0VcMAAAAIBAJ&pg=3826,4386849&dq=ozzie-nelson+ridgefield-park+high-school&hl=en "Ozzie Nelson Honored By Town"], ''[[The Robesonian]]'', October 19, 1992. Accessed August 19, 2013. "The actor, whose TV family entertained millions during the 1950s grew up in Ridgefield Park and graduated in 1923 from the town's high school."</ref>
* [[Lawrence Nuesslein]] (1895–1971), [[Shooting sports|sports]] [[shooting|shooter]] who competed in the [[1920 Summer Olympics]] where he won a total of five medals: two gold medals, one silver and two bronze medals<ref>[http://www.usashooting.org/alumni-association/hall-of-fame/lawrence-nuesslein Hall of Fame - Lawrence Nuesslein], [[USA Shooting]]. Accessed November 14, 2016.</ref>
* [[Gregory Olsen]] (born 1945), entrepreneur, engineer and scientist who, in October 2005, became the third private citizen to make a self-funded trip to the [[International Space Station]]<ref>George, Jason. [https://www.nytimes.com/2004/05/16/nyregion/from-a-c-student-to-a-celestial-traveler.html "From a C Student to a Celestial Traveler"], ''[[The New York Times]]'', May 16, 2004. Accessed December 14, 2013. "In 1962, with an F in trigonometry and a C average at Ridgefield Park High School in New Jersey, Gregory Olsen seemed destined for the final frontier of a steady job, evenings in front of the television and, if lucky, vacations on the Jersey Shore."</ref>
* [[Amelia Stone Quinton]] (1833–1926), social activist and advocate for [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] rights, who co-founded the [[Women's National Indian Association]] in 1883<ref>[https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1926/06/25/98384405.pdf "Mrs. Amelia Stone Quinton"], ''[[The New York Times]]'', June 25, 1926. Accessed November 17, 2017. "Mrs. Amelia Stone Quinton, 91, died on Wednesday at her home, 160 Preston Street, Ridgefield Park, N. J."</ref>
* [[Hatch Rosdahl]] (1941–2004), football player who played for the [[Buffalo Bills]] and [[Kansas City Chiefs]]<ref>Gavin, John A. [https://web.archive.org/web/20140808044224/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-95633795.html "Harrison 'Hatch' Rosdahl, ex-pro football player, at 62"], ''[[The Record (North Jersey)|The Record]]'', June 18, 2004. Accessed July 31, 2014. "Ridgefield Park - Harrison 'Hatch' Rosdahl, a professional football player for seven years, died from injuries suffered in a fall at his home Tuesday."</ref>
* [[David Rothenberg (activist)|David Rothenberg]] (born 1933), Broadway producer and prisoners' rights activist<ref>Beckerman, Jim. [https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/504522594/ "A play about ex-cons, played by themselves"], ''[[The Record (North Jersey)|The Record]]'', July 6, 2008. Accessed January 21, 2022, via [[Newspapers.com]]. "That's the combined prison time of the four ex-convicts who play themselves in this unique off-Broadway play, conceived and directed by Bergen County native David Rothenberg.... Rothenberg, who grew up in Ridgefield Park and Teaneck (Teaneck High School, class of 1951), began his career as a part-time sports writer for ''The Record''."</ref>
* [[Daniel Ruch]] (born 1983), assistant [[soccer]] coach with [[Virginia Wesleyan]] who played professionally for two years for the [[Virginia Beach Mariners]]  and the [[Wilmington Hammerheads]]<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20110807054643/http://www.odusports.com/sports/m-soccer/mtt/ruch_dan00.html Dan Ruch], [[Old Dominion Monarchs soccer]], backed up by the [[Internet Archive]] as of August 7, 2011. Accessed November 15, 2017. "Hometown: Ridgefield Park, NJ; High School: Ridgefield Park"</ref>
* [[Hal Turner]] (born 1962), conservative talk radio host<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20000531141530/http://www.turner2000.org/Bio.htm Harold "Hal" Turner], Turner2000.org, backed up by the [[Internet Archive]] as of May 31, 2000. Accessed October 17, 2017. "At age 4, Hal's family moved from Union City to Ridgefield Park, in Bergen County. He attended Roosevelt School on Teaneck Road in Grades K - 8. Hal graduated from Ridgefield Park High School in 1980."</ref>
* [[George Warrington]] (1952–2007), served as [[executive director]] of [[NJ Transit]]<ref>Levin, Jay. [http://www.northjersey.com/obituaries/12952602.html?c=y&page=1 "Their lives made ours a little richer"], ''[[The Record (North Jersey)|The Record]]'', January 1, 2008. Accessed May 27, 2008.</ref>
* [[Yoojin Grace Wuertz]] (born 1980), novelist who wrote the 2017 book ''Everything Belongs To Us''<ref>Passow, Sam. [http://www.northjersey.com/story/life/2017/04/04/passing-down-stories-oradell-resident-yoojin-grace-wuertz/100010548/ "Passing Down Stories: Oradell resident Yoojin Grace Wuertz"], ''[[The Record (North Jersey)|The Record]]'', April 4, 2017. Accessed June 5, 2017. "Wuertz, who lives in Oradell after growing up in Paramus and Ridgefield Park, released ''Everything Belongs to Us'' in February."</ref>
{{div col end}}