Editing Metuchen, New Jersey (section)

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

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* [[Joy M. Bergelson]] (born 1962), professor of genomics at [[New York University]]<ref>[https://www.nasonline.org/member-directory/members/2542052.html Joy M. Bergelson], [[National Academy of Sciences]]. Accessed January 22, 202. "Bergelson was born in Brooklyn, NY and grew up in Metuchen, NJ."</ref>
* [[Marqus Blakely]] (born 1988), two-time America East Men's Basketball Player of the Year, winner of 2010 slam dunk contest<ref>Staff. [http://www.nj.com/college-basketball/index.ssf/2010/03/metuchens_marqus_blakely_carries_success_to_vermont_ncaa_tournament.html "Metuchen's Marqus Blakely carries success to Vermont, NCAA Tournament"], ''[[The Star-Ledger]]'', March 18, 2010. Accessed January 23, 2011.</ref>
* [[Charles Brown (actor)|Charles Brown]] (1946–2004), actor<ref name=NYT2001/>
* [[Henry T. Brown]] (1932–2020), [[chemical engineer]] who was the first African American in borough government<ref>[https://www.thehistorymakers.org/biography/henry-t-brown "Henry T. Brown"], [[The History Makers]]. Accessed May 22, 2020. "In 1967, Brown moved to Metuchen, New Jersey to work as a development engineer for the Squibb Institute for Medical Research."</ref>
* [[Edward T. Buckingham]] (1874–1942), politician who served as [[List of mayors of Bridgeport, Connecticut|Mayor]] of [[Bridgeport, Connecticut]], from 1909 to 1911 and from 1929 to 1933<ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-courier-news-bridgeport-mayor-edward/139199764/ "Former Resident Of Metuchen Wins Recognition"], ''[[Courier News]]'', August 24, 1939. Accessed January 20, 2024, via [[Newspapers.com]]. "A former Metuchen resident received prominent recognition today in Connecticut where he has served as mayor of Bridgeport and is now compensation commissioner for the Fourth Congressional District."</ref>
* [[Barbara Buono]] (born 1953), [[New Jersey Senate|New Jersey State Senator]]<ref>[http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/members/buono.asp Barbara Buono profile] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120813004723/http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/members/buono.asp |date=August 13, 2012 }}, [[New Jersey Legislature]]. Accessed April 7, 2007. "Public/Party Service: Metuchen Town Council 1993-94".</ref>
* [[John Ciardi]] (1916–1986), poet<ref>Boorstin, Robert O. [https://www.nytimes.com/1986/04/02/obituaries/john-ciardi-poet-essayist-and-translator-69.html "John Ciardi, Poet, Essayist And Translator, 69"], ''[[The New York Times]]'', April 2, 1986. Accessed July 28, 2013. "Mr. Ciardi, who made his home in Metuchen, N.J., was 69 years old."</ref>
* [[David Copperfield (illusionist)|David Copperfield]] (born 1956), magician and illusionist<ref>Witchel, Alex. [https://www.nytimes.com/1996/11/24/theater/a-maestro-of-the-magic-arts-returns-to-his-roots.html "A Maestro of the Magic Arts Returns to His Roots"], ''[[The New York Times]]'', November 24, 1996. Accessed July 28, 2013. "David Seth Kotkin was born in Metuchen, N.J., 40 years ago; David Copperfield was born when David Kotkin turned 18, at the suggestion of the wife of a ''New York Post'' reporter. Which is why his passport reads ''David Kotkin, a.k.a. David Copperfield.''"</ref><ref>[https://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=de&u=http://www.mdr.de/dabei-ab-zwei/wunschtraum/1666-hintergrund-2219705.html&sa=X&oi=translate&resnum=4&ct=result&prev=/search%3Fq%3D%2522David%2BCopperfield%2522%2B%2522metuchen%2Bhigh%2Bschool%2522%26num%3D50%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26rlz%3D1B2GGGL_enUS176 "The life by David Copperfield"], Accessed November 21, 2006.</ref>
* [[Scott Cowen]] (born 1946), president of [[Tulane University]]<ref>Staff. [http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=NewsLibrary&p_multi=NOBB&d_place=NOBB&p_theme=newslibrary2&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=105F69AD6F793228&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM "Le Grand Executif: Scott Cowen, president of Tulane University"], ''[[New Orleans CityBusiness]]'', October 25, 2004. Accessed January 23, 2011.</ref>
* [[Paula Danziger]] (1944–2004), [[children's literature|children's author]] who wrote more than 30 books, including her 1974 debut [[young adult fiction|young adult novel]], ''[[The Cat Ate My Gymsuit]]''<ref>Woo, Elaine. [https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2004-jul-10-me-danziger10-story.html "Paula Danziger, 59; Wrote Novels for Teens"], ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'', July 10, 2004. Accessed February 19, 2018. "Born in Washington, D.C., and raised in Metuchen, N.J., Danziger was the daughter of a garment worker and a nurse who often told interviewers that she grew up in an unhappy family and turned to books 'to escape all the yelling.'"</ref>
* [[Betsy Dunn]], politician who served in the [[Vermont House of Representatives]] from 2017 to 2019<ref>[https://legislature.vermont.gov/people/single/2018/27164 Representative Elizabeth "Betsy" Dunn], [[Vermont General Assembly]]. Accessed December 27, 2020. "I was raised in Metuchen, New Jersey."</ref>
* [[Bernard J. Dwyer]] (1921–1998), politician, who served in the [[United States House of Representatives]] from New Jersey from 1981 to 1993<ref>Staff. [https://www.nytimes.com/1998/11/05/nyregion/b-j-dwyer-new-jersey-congressman-77.html "B. J. Dwyer, New Jersey Congressman, 77"], ''[[The New York Times]]'', November 5, 1998. Accessed August 4, 2019. "Bernard James Dwyer, a former Representative from New Jersey, died Saturday in Edison, N.J., at the John F. Kennedy Medical Center, which he had served as a trustee. He was 77 and, a longtime Edison resident, had lived in Metuchen, N.J., for the last few years."</ref>
* [[Gail Fisher]] (1935–2000), first black actress to win an Emmy<ref>Tufaro, Greg. [http://www.mycentraljersey.com/story/news/education/2015/11/20/metuchen-high-school-unveils-inaugural-hall-fame-induction-class/76118760/ "Metuchen High School Hall of Fame inductees honored at reception"], ''[[Courier News]]'', November 20, 2015. Accessed January 9, 2017.</ref>
* [[James Florio]] (1937-2022), [[Governor of New Jersey]] from 1990 to 1994<ref>[[Andrew Jacobs (journalist)|Jacobs, Andrew]]. [https://www.nytimes.com/2000/06/08/nyregion/primary-new-jersey-loser-for-florio-his-days-comeback-kid-may-be-over.html "Primary In New Jersey: The Loser; For Florio, His Days as the 'Comeback Kid' May Be Over"], ''[[The New York Times]]'', June 8, 2000. Accessed May 5, 2012. "Mr. Florio, who lost the race, 42 percent to 58 percent, spent the day with his wife, Lucinda, in their home in Metuchen."</ref>
* [[Lucinda Florio]] (1947–2022), teacher and advocate for education and literacy, First Lady of New Jersey (1990–1994)<ref>Johnson, Brent. [https://www.msn.com/en-us/lifestyle/lifestyle-buzz/lucinda-florio-former-nj-first-lady-and-wife-of-gov-jim-florio-dies-just-weeks-after-husbands-passing/ar-AA14eN4l "NJ.com Lucinda Florio, former N.J. first lady and wife of Gov. Jim Florio, dies just weeks after husband’s passing"], [[MSN.com]], November 16, 2022. Accessed July 24, 2023. "The couple lived in Metuchen for years before returning to South Jersey, in Moorestown, later in life."</ref>
* [[Mary Eleanor Wilkins Freeman]] (1852–1930), author and novelist<ref>[http://web.csustan.edu/english/reuben/pal/chap6/freeman.html Chapter 6: Mary Eleanor Wilkins Freeman (1852-1930)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080907001844/http://web.csustan.edu/english/reuben/pal/chap6/freeman.html |date=September 7, 2008 }}, accessed April 8, 2007. "Freeman did eventually marry Charles, on New Year's Day, 1902, and they made their home in Metuchen, New Jersey."</ref>
* [[James Freis]] (born 1970), global fraud expert and former director of the [[Financial Crimes Enforcement Network]]<ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/13661526/the-courier-news/ "140 seniors win Byrd scholarships"], ''[[Courier News]]'', June 19, 1988. Accessed December 24, 2020, via [[Newspapers.com]]. "Middlesex County: James Freis of Metuchen, St. Joseph's High School"</ref>
* [[Samuel L. Greitzer]] (1905–1988), mathematician who was founding chairman of the [[United States of America Mathematical Olympiad]]<ref>[[Murray S. Klamkin|Klamkin, Murray S.]], [https://cms.math.ca/crux/backfile/Crux_v5n03_Mar.pdf "The Olympiad Corner"], ''[[Crux Mathematicorum]]'', 5 (3): p. 62–69 (March 1979). Accessed May 22, 2016. "Professor S.L. Greitzer, Chairman, U.S.A. Mathematical Olympiad Committee, 350-A Lafayette Road, Metuchen, New Jersey 08840."</ref>
* [[Robert Hegyes]] (1951–2012), actor who played the character "Epstein" in the 1970s TV series ''[[Welcome Back, Kotter]]''<ref>Jordan, Chris. [http://www.mycentraljersey.com/article/20110416/NJNEWS/104160344/Metuchen-native-enjoying-Welcome-Back-Kotter-anniversary "Metuchen native enjoying ''Welcome Back, Kotter'' anniversary"], ''[[Courier News]]'', April 16, 2011. Accessed June 27, 2011. "Welcome back, Robert Hegyes. The Metuchen native, who played Epstein on ''Welcome Back, Kotter,'' is enjoying new acclaim as the show marks its 35th anniversary."</ref>
* [[Cecelia Holland]] (born 1943), historical novelist<ref>[[Cecelia Holland|Holland, Cecelia]]. [https://books.google.com/books?id=15EhAQAAIAAJ&q=%22Cecelia+Holland%22+metuchen ''The Firedrake''], p. 245. [[Atheneum Books]], 1966. Accessed May 5, 2012. "Cecelia Holland was born on New Year's Eve, 1943, in Henderson, Nevada, and was raised in Metuchen, New Jersey, and Woodbridge, Connecticut."</ref>
* [[Elie Honig]] (born 1977) , attorney and [[CNN]] senior legal analyst<ref>Baxter, Christopher. [https://www.nj.com/politics/2013/03/nj_gotti_mobster_mafia_honig.html "New N.J. chief of criminal prosecutions sharpened skills battling N.Y. mobsters"], NJ Advance Media for [[NJ.com]], March 24, 2013. Accessed January 12, 2023. "'I went into law school with a less idealistic view than a lot of people going into law school,' said Honig, who lives with his wife and young son and daughter in Metuchen."</ref>
* [[Ed Kalegi]] (born 1967), [[voice actor]], radio personality, host and actor<ref>[https://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/ed-kalegi-to-serve-as-in-house-voice-of-the-ironmen/n-3564249 "Ed Kalegi To Serve As In-house Voice Of The Ironmen"], Our Sports Central, November 27, 2007. Accessed July 4, 2018. "Outside of the sports world, Kalegi serves as the voice of Weather Phone in New York City, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Maine. The Metuchen native has also worked as a voice actor, appearing in commercials, narrations and audio books."</ref>
* [[Robert Kaplow]] (born {{circa|1954}}), teacher and novelist whose coming-of-age novel was made into a film titled ''[[Me and Orson Welles]]''<ref>Stone, D. Z. [https://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/15/nyregion/15teachnj.html "A Teacher's Dream Gets to the Screen"], ''[[The New York Times]]'', November 13, 2009. Accessed October 26, 2015. "Mr. Kaplow, 55, who lives in Metuchen, describes the book as 'a romantic comedy about the way we are both hurt and exhilarated by our attempts to create art.'"</ref>
* [[Jerome H. Lemelson]] (1923–1997), inventor and holder of more than 550 patents<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20030302092111/http://web.mit.edu/invent/w-lemelsonbio.html About Jerome Lemelson], [[Massachusetts Institute of Technology]]. Accessed June 27, 2011. "The Lemelsons first resided in Metuchen, New Jersey, followed by Princeton, NJ and finally Incline Village, NV."</ref>
* [[KC Navarro]] (born 1999), [[professional wrestling|professional wrestler]] with [[Total Nonstop Action Wrestling]]<ref>[https://tnawrestling.com/2024/10/17/tna-wrestling-signs-kc-navarro/ "TNA Wrestling Signs KC Navarro"], [[Total Nonstop Action Wrestling]], October 17, 2024. Accessed January 8, 2025. "Graduated from Metuchen High School in 2017 in Metuchen, New Jersey."</ref>
* [[Lonny Price]] (born 1959), actor, writer and director<ref name=NYT2001>Gardner, Amanda. [https://www.nytimes.com/2001/06/03/nyregion/theater-tony-awards-new-jersey-ties.html "Theater; Tony Awards' New Jersey Ties"], ''[[The New York Times]]'', June 3, 2001. Accessed May 5, 2012. "Lonny Price (best book of a musical, ''A Class Act'') grew up in Metuchen. Charles Brown (best performance by a featured actor in a play, ''King Hedley II''), grew up and still lives in Metuchen."</ref>
* [[Thomas Mundy Peterson]] (1824–1904), first [[African-American]] to [[vote]] in an [[election]] under the just-enacted provisions of the [[Fifteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution|15th Amendment]] to the [[United States Constitution]]<ref>[http://www.metuchen-edisonhistsoc.org/resources/To+Cast+a+Freedmans+Vote+-+by+Gordon+Bond+-+for+MEHS+web.pdf "To Cast a Freedman's Vote"], Metuchen-Edison Historical Society, Accessed February 24, 2020. "The story of Peterson’s childhood is sketchy at best, though not for want of trying by local historians. He was born in what is now Metuchen (then part of Woodbridge) and local historians Tyreen Reuter and Walter Stochel have been researching that part of his life. His parents were Thomas and Lucy, and their story is something of a muddle if you go by the various subsequent articles and histories that mention them."</ref>
* [[Hester Martha Poole]] (1833–1932), writer, poet, art critic, artist, and an advocate for women's rights<ref>[http://www.metuchen-edisonhistsoc.org/resources/1Q11news-INSERT+-+BB+Names+WITH+TITLE.pdf Listed here are some of the accomplished residents who have made Metuchen, NJ the "Brainy Borough."], Metuchen-Edison Historical Society. Accessed July 7, 2020.</ref><ref>Willard, Frances E.; and Livermore, Mary A. [https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_zXEEAAAAYAAJ/page/n585/mode/2up?q=metuchen ''A Woman of the Century: Fourteen Hundred-seventy Biographical Sketches Accompanied by Portraits of Leading American Women in All Walks of Life''], p. 585. Charles Wells Moulton, 1893. Accessed July 9, 2020. "Poole, Mrs. Hester Martha, author, artist and critic was born in western Vermont, around 1843.... Her present residence is in Metuchen, N. J."</ref>
* [[Matt Popino]] (born {{Circa|1991}}), [[college football]] coach, who has been the head football coach for [[Carthage College]] since 2024<ref>[https://www.wsulancers.com/sports/fball/2010-11/bios/popino_matt_47qv?view=profile Matt Popino], [[Worcester State Lancers football]]. Accessed January 23, 2024. "Hometown: Metuchen, NJ; High School: Bishop Ahr"</ref>
* [[Brian Ralph]] (born 1973), [[alternative comics|alternative]] [[cartoonist]], whose graphic novel, ''Daybreak'', was adapted for the [[Netflix]] series ''[[Daybreak (2019 TV series)|Daybreak]]''<ref>Muscavage, Nick. [https://www.mycentraljersey.com/story/entertainment/2020/02/10/netflix-series-daybreak-adaptation-metuchen-nj-mans-book/4689990002/ "Netflix series ''Daybreak'' an adaptation of Metuchen man's graphic novel"], ''[[Courier News]]'', February 10, 2020. Accessed February 13, 2020. "Ralph, who grew up on New York Avenue in Metuchen, has lived in Savannah, Georgia, for 11 years."</ref>
* [[Nancy A. Roseman]], 28th president of [[Dickinson College]]<ref>Amaral, Brian. [https://www.nj.com/middlesex/2013/09/metuchen_native_makes_history_as_new_president_of_dickinson_college.html "Metuchen native makes history as new president of Dickinson College"], NJ Advance Media for [[NJ.com]], September 24, 2013. "Metuchen – Nancy Roseman, a native of the so-called 'Brainy Borough,' will live up to that hometown moniker when she's officially installed as president of Dickinson College at a ceremony on Saturday."</ref>
* [[Tom Ruegger]] (born 1955/1956), animator, screenwriter, storyboard artist and lyricist, who created ''[[Animaniacs]]'' and ''[[Histeria!]]''<ref>O'Donnell, Chuck. [https://www.mycentraljersey.com/story/news/local/middlesex-county/2014/07/20/tom-ruegger-cartoon-genius-inspired-childhood-metuchen/12863593/ "Cartoon genius inspired by childhood in Metuchen"], ''[[Courier News]]'', July 20, 2014. Accessed March 6, 2022. "Executive Producer Tom Ruegger says the secret to making great cartoons is being able to channel your inner child. And for him, that means reaching back to his childhood in Metuchen in the late 1960s and early 1970s and recalling an idyllic time filled with Saturday morning cartoons, Sunday newspaper comic strips and summer afternoons playing Little League."</ref>
* [[Quinn Shephard]] (born 1995), actress, writer, director and producer, whose directorial debut film ''[[Blame (2017 film)|Blame]]'' was shot in Metuchen<ref>Stewart, Sara. [https://nypost.com/2018/01/04/this-22-year-old-director-wrote-her-screenplay-in-high-school/ "This 22-year-old director wrote her screenplay in high school"], ''[[New York Post]]'', January 4, 2018. Accessed May 31, 2018. "'I got made fun of for being weird and artsy,' says Quinn Shephard, who wrote, directed and stars in the drama ''Blame,'' out in theaters Friday.... The Metuchen, NJ, native graduated from public high school early and went on to a role in the CBS drama ''Hostages.''"</ref>
* [[Robert Taub]] (born 1955), concert pianist, recording artist, scholar, author and entrepreneur<ref>[https://www.tapinto.net/towns/plainfield/sections/arts-and-entertainment/articles/plainfield-symphony-renowned-pianist-robert-taub "Plainfield Symphony: Renowned Pianist Robert Taub in 98th Season Opener"], TAP into Plainfield, September 24, 2017. Accessed March 6, 2022. "Taub, who was raised in nearby Metuchen, New Jersey, received his earliest music instruction from Plainfield’s French School of Music and made numerous community appearances at an early age."</ref>
* [[Jack Waldman]] (1952–1986), jazz and rock musician, composer, producer, vocalist and multi-instrumentalist<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.metuchenschools.org/mhs/Guidance/_zumu_sidebar/Scholarship%20Bulletin%202009.pdf |title=Scholarship Bulletin 2009 |access-date=July 18, 2009 |archive-date=November 29, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181129184052/http://www.metuchenschools.org/mhs/Guidance/_zumu_sidebar/Scholarship%20Bulletin%202009.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* [[Marvin Webster]] (1952–2009), former professional basketball player who spent half his NBA career with the [[New York Knicks]]<ref>Araton, Harvey. [https://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/09/sports/basketball/09dribble.html "Remembering Marvin Webster, Once a Knicks Savior"], ''[[The New York Times]]'', April 8, 2009. Accessed June 27, 2011. "I had an address for him at a condominium development in Metuchen, N.J., where he was said to be working in real estate. A few months after Marvin Jr.'s death, I slipped a note under his door, with my telephone number, which went uncalled. A neighbor told me that Webster was not seen very often and generally kept to himself."</ref>
* [[Richard Wenk]] (born 1956), screenwriter and director best known for his work on ''[[The Expendables 2]]'' (2012), ''[[The Equalizer (film)|The Equalizer]]'' (2014), and ''[[The Magnificent Seven (2016 film)|The Magnificent Seven]]'' (2016)<ref>Schwartz, David. [https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/style/1986/07/27/richard-wenk-vamping-out/31e4b353-0c55-41b9-b009-1f4d03af2dd6/ "Richard Wenk, Vamping Out"], ''[[The Washington Post]]'', July 27, 1986. Accessed March 6, 2022. "It took more than five years for Wenk to get the break that would allow him to work with such big-name stars. Born and raised in Metuchen, N.J. (his father is an electrical contractor), he graduated from NYU in 1979, and went to Los Angeles with his thesis film, a half-hour musical vampire comedy titled ''Dracula Bites the Big Apple.''"</ref>
* [[Julian E. Zelizer]] (born 1969), author and professor of political history at [[Princeton University]]<ref>Strauss, Robert. [https://njmonthly.com/articles/jersey-living/julian-zelizer-presidents-precedents/ "Julian Zelizer: Presidents & Precedents; The Princeton history professor talks about his new book, how we expect too much out of our presidents, and why Congressional gridlock isn't anything new."], ''[[New Jersey Monthly]]'', July 8, 2015. Accessed July 13, 2020. "Growing up in Metuchen in the 1980s and 1990s, the son of a rabbi and a sociology professor, Julian Zelizer developed a fascination with American history. In his senior year at Metuchen High School, two teachers inspired him to delve into the Civil Rights era."</ref>
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