Editing Scotch Plains, New Jersey (section)

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

{{div col}}
* [[Audrey Assad]] (born 1983), contemporary Christian music artist with Sparrow Records<ref>Flores, Raúl A. [http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=SAEC&p_theme=saec&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=12AB494BE7F55AD8&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM "For openers"], ''[[San Antonio Express-News]]'', September 11, 2009. Accessed July 21, 2011. "Audrey Assad Young new artist from Scotch Plains NJ weaves her melodic voice with keyboard acoustics and lyrics that explore faith through music."</ref><ref>Amos, Evan. [http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Evan-Amos/Interviews/AudreyAssad Audrey Assad interview], Wikimedia Commons, June 30, 2011. Accessed July 19, 2011.</ref>
* [[Alan Augustine]] (1928–2001), politician who served as Mayor of Scotch Plains, councilman, freeholder and in the [[New Jersey General Assembly]], representing the [[New Jersey's 22nd legislative district|22nd Legislative District]]<ref>Peyton, Paul J.; and Rossi, Fred. [http://www.goleader.com/01jun14/01jun14.pdf "Alan M. Augustine Dies Following Long Illness"], ''The Westfield Leader'', June 14, 2001. Accessed October 1, 2015. "Mr. Augustine was also well-known for the 20 years he spent as a member of the Scotch Plains Township Council."</ref>
* [[Thomas J. Barr]] (1812–1881), politician who represented [[New York's 4th congressional district]] from 1859 to 1861<ref>[http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=B000172 Barr, Thomas Jefferson, (1812–1881)], ''[[Biographical Directory of the United States Congress]]''. Accessed October 1, 2015. "moved to Scotch Plains, N.J., in 1835 and conducted a roadhouse"</ref>
* [[Hank Beenders]] (1916–2003), early professional basketball player<ref>"Former Philadelphia Warriors player Hank Beenders dies at 87", ''[[Burlington County Times]]'', October 27, 2003. "Born in Haarlem, Holland, he lived in Brooklyn, and in Scotch Plains before moving to Bridgewater 36 years ago."</ref><ref>Staff. [https://www.goleader.com/03oct30/8.pdf "Henry Beenders, 87, Pro Basketball Player; Was Member of NBA Championship Team"], ''The Westfield Leader and The Scotch Plains – Fanwood Times'', October 30, 2003. Accessed October 1, 2015. "Born in Haarlem, Holland, he emigrated to the United States 79 years ago. He had lived in Brooklyn, N.Y. and in Scotch Plains before relocating to Bridgewater 36 years ago."</ref>
* [[Carol Bellamy]] (born 1942), former executive director of [[UNICEF]] and director of the [[Peace Corps]]<ref>[[Barbara Crossette|Crossette, Barbara]]. [https://www.nytimes.com/2002/04/22/nyregion/city-hall-world-s-stage-carol-bellamy-uses-her-unicef-perch-fight-for-children.html "From City Hall to the World's Stage; Carol Bellamy Uses Her Unicef Perch to Fight for Children"], ''[[The New York Times]]'', April 22, 2002. Accessed September 4, 2014. "Her official United Nations biography doesn't even mention that she grew up in Scotch Plains, N.J."</ref>
* [[David Blitzer]] (born 1970), senior executive at the [[Blackstone Group]], part-owner of the [[New Jersey Devils]] of the [[National Hockey League]], [[Philadelphia 76ers]] of the [[National Basketball Association]]<ref>Gulitti, Tom. [http://www.northjersey.com/news/nj-state-news/76ers-owners-josh-harris-david-blitzer-buy-devils-1.692822 "76ers owners Josh Harris, David Blitzer buy Devils"], ''[[The Record (North Jersey)|The Record]]'', August 15, 2013. Accessed October 1, 2015. "'It's tough to parse words on that, honestly, because, A, we're brand new,' said Blitzer, a Scotch Plains native and senior managing director of Blackstone Group in New York."</ref>
* [[Judy Blume]] (born 1938), author, lived in Scotch Plains while writing the classic ''Fudge'' series of children's books<ref>Goldblatt, Jennifer. [https://www.nytimes.com/2004/11/14/nyregion/blumes-day.html "Blume's Day"], ''[[The New York Times]]'', November 14, 2004. Accessed October 1, 2015. "It wasn't until after Ms. Blume had gotten her bachelor's degree in education from New York University in 1961, was married and raising her son, Larry, and her daughter, Randy, and living in Plainfield and later Scotch Plains, that she started to commit her stories and characters to paper, cramming writing sessions in while the children were at preschool and at play."</ref>
* [[Derrick Caracter]] (born 1988), [[Power forward (basketball)|power forward]]/[[center (basketball)|center]] for the [[UTEP Miners men's basketball|University of Texas-El Paso Miners]] team who was drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2010 NBA Draft<ref>Goodman, Jeff. [https://www.usatoday.com/sports/preps/basketball/2005-11-16-caracter-second-chance_x.htm "Heralded recruit struggles with expectations"], ''[[USA Today]]'', November 16, 2005. Accessed October 1, 2015. "Caracter grew up in Scotch Plains (pop. 22,732, about 15 miles southwest of Newark) in a middle-class family."</ref>
* [[Abraham Coles]] (1813–1891), physician, translator, author and poet<ref>Coles, Abraham; Hunt, Ezra Mundy. [https://books.google.com/books?id=4zVtAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA54 ''Abraham Coles: Biographical Sketch, Memorial Tributes, Selections from His Works, (some Hitherto Unpublished.)''], p. 54. D. Appleton, 1892. Accessed October 1, 2015. "There was no more scholarly man in New Jersey than Dr. Abraham Coles, who was best known for his translations of the 'Dies Irae.' Although he practiced medicine in Newark, he made his home at Scotch Plains, N. J."</ref>
* [[Ezra Darby]] (1768–1808), politician who represented [[New Jersey's at-large congressional district]] from 1805 until his death<ref>[http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=D000047 Darby, Ezra, (1768–1808)], ''[[Biographical Directory of the United States Congress]]''. Accessed October 1, 2015. "darby, Ezra, a Representative from New Jersey; born in Scotch Plains, N.J., June 7, 1768"</ref>
* [[Donald DiFrancesco]] (born 1944), former [[Governor of New Jersey]] and Senate President<ref>[https://www.nga.org/governor/donald-t-difrancesco/ New Jersey Governor Donald T. DiFrancesco], [[National Governors Association]]. Accessed November 13, 2018. "Donald T. DiFrancesco was born in Scotch Plains, New Jersey. He graduated from Penn State University in 1966 with a bachelor's degree in business."</ref>
* [[Pat DiNizio]] (1955–2017), singer/songwriter for ''[[The Smithereens]]''<ref>Cahillane, Kevin. [https://www.nytimes.com/2004/10/10/nyregion/not-fade-away-the-smithereens-monument-to-persistence.html "Not Fade Away: The Smithereens' Monument to Persistence"], ''[[The New York Times]]'', October 10, 2004. Accessed November 13, 2018. "The band formed in 1980 when three Carteret High School graduates (class of 1975) and childhood friends (Mr. Babjak, Dennis Diken on drums and Mike Mesaros on bass) met Pat DiNizio, a Scotch Plains singer-songwriter-garbage man."</ref>
* [[Jerome Epstein (politician)|Jerome Epstein]] (born 1937), politician who served in the [[New Jersey Senate]] and then went to federal prison for pirating oil<ref>[[David Wildstein|Edge, Wally]]. [http://politickernj.com/2009/04/the-state-senator-who-went-to-jail-for-being-a-pirate/ "The State Senator who went to jail for being a pirate"], [[PolitickerNJ]], April 23, 2009. Accessed October 1, 2015. "During the energy shortage in the 1970's, former State Sen. Jerome Epstein (R-Scotch Plains) was sentenced to nine years in prison after a jury convicted him of pirating about $4 million worth of oil from Exxon tanks on the Arthur Kill in Linden."</ref>
* [[John Gano]] (1727–1804), [[chaplain]] who baptized [[George Washington]]<ref>John Gano, [https://books.google.com/books?id=PFYwAAAAYAAJ ''Biographical memoirs of the late Rev. John Gano, of Frankfort (Kentucky): formerly of the city of New York''] (Printed by Southwick and Hardcastle for J. Tiebout, 1806)</ref><ref>Thomas R. McKibbens, [https://books.google.com/books?id=_dJPyItJZvYC ''The forgotten heritage: a lineage of great Baptist preaching''] (Mercer University Press, 1986), pg. 136</ref>
* [[Rashan Gary]] (born 1997), [[defensive tackle]] for the [[Michigan Wolverines football]] team<ref>Stanmyre, Matthew. [http://highschoolsports.nj.com/news/article/-4893435448098940908/former-school-says-rashan-gary-nations-top-recruit-was-recruited-to-paramus-catholic/ "Rashan Gary, nation's top recruit, was recruited to Paramus Catholic, old school indicates"] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181119011358/http://highschoolsports.nj.com/news/article/-4893435448098940908/former-school-says-rashan-gary-nations-top-recruit-was-recruited-to-paramus-catholic/ |date=November 19, 2018}}, ''[[The Star-Ledger]]'', August 25, 2014. Accessed November 6, 2017. "Gary’s mother, Jennifer Coney, said today her son 'absolutely was not recruited.' She said Gary had been living with his father and grandparents in Scotch Plains, but the house is now for sale, so she moved her son into her home in Plainfield."</ref>
* [[Ashton Gibbs]] (born 1990), starting point-guard for the [[Pittsburgh Panthers men's basketball]] team<ref>Mazzeo, Mike. [https://www.espn.com/new-york/nba/news/story?id=6073177 "N.J. native lifts No. 2 Pitt over Rutgers"], ESPN New York, January 30, 2011. Accessed April 21, 2011. "Pittsburgh junior guard Ashton Gibbs grew up 25 minutes from the Louis Brown Athletic Center in nearby Scotch Plains. Leave it to the hometown kid to stick the dagger in the hearts of the home crowd."</ref>
* [[Sterling Gibbs]] (born 1993), professional basketball player for [[Kolossos Rodou B.C.|Kolossos Rodou]] of the [[Greek Basket League]]<ref>Carino, Jerry. [https://www.app.com/story/sports/college/2015/04/28/seton-hall-basketball-sterling-gibbs-transfer/26525417/ "In huge blow, Sterling Gibbs leaving Seton Hall basketball"], ''[[Asbury Park Press]]'', April 28, 2015. Accessed January 15, 2019. "The final thud from Seton Hall's freefall in men's basketball echoed Tuesday with news that Sterling Gibbs – a homegrown talent and the face of the program – is leaving to take a postgraduate year elsewhere.... Like Sina, the Scotch Plains native committed to the Hall at a time when Willard was scraping for recruits."</ref>
* [[Scott Goldblatt]] (born 1979), swimmer who won a gold medal at the [[2004 Summer Olympics]] in Athens and a silver medal at the [[2000 Summer Olympics]] in [[Sydney, Australia]], with both medals earned in the 4 × 200 m Freestyle Relay<ref>"Swimmer ready for the race of his life", ''[[The Star-Ledger]]'', September 17, 2000. "Name: Scott Goldblatt Age: 21 Hometown: Summit Residence: Scotch Plains, until going away to college in Austin, Texas. Education: He attended Mcginn Elementary School, Coles Elementary School and Terrill Middle School in Scotch Plains and then the Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School, graduating in 1997."</ref>
* [[Jeffrey Hammonds]] (born 1971), former MLB outfielder who had one all-star appearance in his 13 seasons<ref>Staff. [https://www.nytimes.com/1993/06/26/sports/baseball-rookie-tips-his-nervousness.html "Baseball; Rookie Tips His Nervousness"], ''[[The New York Times]]'', June 26, 1993. Accessed May 4, 2007. "'I've never been that nervous before in my life,' said the 22-year-old center fielder, who played at Stanford and is from Scotch Plains, N.J. 'I would have swung at anything on that pitch. I'm just happy it dropped in. After that hit, it just carried on from there.'"</ref>
* [[Isaac Heller]] (1926–2015), toy manufacturer who co-founded [[Remco]]<ref>[[Margalit Fox|Fox, Margalit]]. [https://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/11/business/isaac-heller-co-founder-of-remco-and-toymaker-to-a-generation-dies-at-88.html?_r=0 "Isaac Heller, Co-Founder of Remco and Toymaker to a Generation, Dies at 88"], ''[[The New York Times]]'', March 10, 2015. Accessed December 27, 2017. "Mr. Heller’s death, at his home in Scotch Plains, N.J., was confirmed by his son-in-law Jack Romberg."</ref>
* [[Jerome Hines]] (1921–2003), opera singer<ref>Portantiere, Michael. [http://www.theatermania.com/new-york-city-theater/news/02-2003/opera-and-musical-theater-star-jerome-hines-dies-a_3090.html "Opera and Musical Theater Star Jerome Hines Dies at 81"], Theatermania.com, February 5, 2003. Accessed October 1, 2015. "A resident of Scotch Plains, New Jersey, Hines appeared frequently at the Paper Mill Playhouse in Millburn in recent years."</ref>
* [[Tom Jackson (American football, born 1948)|Tom Jackson]] (born 1948), former football player and coach who was head football coach at the [[University of Connecticut]] from 1983 to 1993<ref>Campaniani, Jim. [https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1915&dat=19831217&id=XTpSAAAAIBAJ&sjid=UTYNAAAAIBAJ&pg=1738,3962641&hl=en "UConn recruiting focus in-state, but not local"], ''[[The Day (New London)|The Day]]'', December 18, 1983. Accessed October 1, 2015. "A Scotch Plains, native and former all-east guard at Penn State, Jackson has a good feel for in-state talent."</ref>
* [[Nate Jones (cornerback)|Nate Jones]] (born 1982), cornerback for the [[Denver Broncos]].<ref>[http://www.nfl.com/draft/profiles/nathan_jones Nathan Jones prospect profile], [[NFL.com]]. Accessed July 15, 2007. Academic All-American at Rutgers "Education major … Born June 15, 1982 … Resides in Scotch Plains, N.J."</ref>
* [[Hillary Klimowicz]] (born 1987), basketball player who has played for Limoges ABC<ref>O'Gorman, George. [http://www.trentonian.com/article/TT/20100104/SPORTS/301049987 "Klimowicz, Hurley among New Jersey sportswriters' honorees"], ''[[The Trentonian]]'', January 4, 2010. Accessed October 1, 2015. "TCNJ's Division III national Player of the Year Hillary Klimowicz, who hails from Scotch Plains, will join legendary St. Anthony of Jersey City basketball coach Bob Hurley in the spotlight at the 74th annual N.J. Sports Writers Association dinner on Sunday Jan. 31 at Pines Manor on Route 27 in Edison starting at 11:30 a.m."</ref>
* [[Christian J. Lambertsen]] (1917–2011), [[environmental medicine]] and [[diving medicine]] specialist who developed the [[United States Navy]] [[frogmen]]'s [[Diving rebreather|rebreathers]] in the early 1940s and created the acronym "[[Scuba set|SCUBA]]"<ref>Downey, Sally A. [https://www.inquirer.com/philly/obituaries/20110221_Christian_J__Lambertsen__93__developer_of_the_first_scuba_gear.html "Christian J. Lambertsen, 93, developer of the first scuba gear"], ''[[The Philadelphia Inquirer]]'', February 21, 2011. Accessed August 12, 2019. "A native of Scotch Plains, N.J., Dr. Lambertsen worked as a youth at resorts along Barnegat Bay. An expert swimmer, he began experimenting with homemade diving equipment."</ref>
* [[Mary LeSawyer]] (1917–2004), opera singer<ref>Staff. [http://www.ukrweekly.com/old/archive/2004/260409.shtml "Obituary: Mary Lesawyer, 91, opera singer and community activist"], ''[[The Ukrainian Weekly]]'', June 27, 2004. Accessed October 1, 2015. "The Lesawyers lived for many years in Scotch Plains, N.J., before moving to Venice, Fla., after their retirement."</ref>
* [[Joseph Malchow]] (born 1985), technology executive and venture capital investor<ref>Sheldon, Linzi. [http://www.dartmouth.edu/~news/releases/2007/04/11.html "Wall Street Journal selects Dartmouth junior Joseph Malchow as a 2007 Bartley Fellow"], ''Dartmouth News'', April 11, 2007. Accessed March 16, 2015. "Dartmouth junior Joseph Malchow has been chosen as a 2007 Bartley fellow, winning a paid summer internship at ''The Wall Street Journal''.... Malchow, a native of Scotch Plains, N.J., is a government major and prospective English major at Dartmouth."</ref>
* [[Bryan Meredith]] (born 1989), goalkeeper who has played for the [[Seattle Sounders FC]] and [[San Jose Earthquakes]] of the [[Major League Soccer|MLS]]<ref>Giase, Frank. [http://www.nj.com/redbulls/index.ssf/2011/01/monmouth_goalkeeper_bryan_meredith_selected_in_second_round_of_mls_superdraft_by_seattle_sounders.html "Monmouth goalkeeper Bryan Meredith selected in second round of MLS SuperDraft by Seattle Sounders"], ''[[The Star-Ledger]]'', January 13, 2011. Accessed December 18, 2011. "The Seattle Sounders selected Meredith, a Scotch Plains native, in the second round of the Major League Soccer SuperDraft (No. 29 overall), a team that in a year will have a gaping hole at goalkeeper."</ref>
* [[James Murphy (footballer, born 1997)|James Murphy]] (born 1997), [[association football|soccer]] player who currently plays as a [[midfielder]] for [[USL Championship]] club [[Rio Grande Valley FC]]<ref>Bernstein, Jason. [http://highschoolsports.nj.com/news/article/1048203778438323229/james-murphy-of-scotch-plains-is-named-gatorade-new-jersey-boys-soccer-player-of-the-year/ "James Murphy of Scotch Plains is named Gatorade New Jersey Boys Soccer Player of the Year"], ''[[The Star-Ledger]]'', February 13, 2014. Accessed August 10, 2016. "On the soccer field Scotch Plains' James Murphy has the ability to anticipate just about anything that comes his ways. Despite an already lengthy list awards, he did not expect to be named the 2013–14 Gatorade New Jersey Boys Soccer Player of the Year."</ref>
* [[John Murphy (soccer, born 2000)|John Murphy]] (born 2000), [[association football|soccer]] player who last played as a [[midfielder]] for [[USL Championship]] club [[Loudoun United FC]]<ref>[https://www.loudoununitedfc.com/news_article/show/1031697 "Loudoun United Have Acquired Three New Players For The Remainder Of The Inaugural Season"], [[Loudoun United FC]], June 27, 2019. Accessed September 17, 2020. "The 19-year-old midfielder from Scotch Plains, NJ., scored 18 goals in 60 appearances in the academy."</ref>
* [[Renaldo Nehemiah]] (born 1959), track star who set world record in the 110 meter hurdles, NFL [[wide receiver]] for the [[San Francisco 49ers]] and the only four-time winner of ABC's Superstar competition<ref>Staff. [https://www.nytimes.com/1982/11/10/sports/sports-people-nehemiah-wins-one.html "Sports people; Nehemiah Wins One"], ''[[The New York Times]]'', November 10, 1982. Accessed August 30, 2012. "Frank Greenberg, secretary of the Middle Atlantic Athletic Congress, said after a hearing in Philadelphia that the 23-year-old Nehemiah wanted to remain an amateur so he could compete at Los Angeles. The native of Scotch Plains, N.J., holds the 110-yard hurdles record of 12.93 seconds."</ref>
* [[Louise Townsend Nicholl]] (1890–1981), poet and editor<ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-news-fairleigh-dickinson-university/139540193/ "F-D Literary Review Award To Louise Nicholl"], ''The News'', January 20, 1960. Accessed January 25, 2024, via [[Newspapers.com]]. "''The Literary Review,'' an international quarterly published bv Fairleigh Dickinson University, Teaneck, announces the granting of a $300 Longview Literary Award to Louise Townsend Nicholl. The award is made to the New Jersey-born (Scotch Plains) poet for her poem, 'Plain Geometry,' published in the Autumn 1958 number of ''The Literary Review''."</ref>
* [[Amy Ellis Nutt]] (born 1955), journalist and [[The New York Times|''New York Times'']] bestselling author, who was the recipient of the 2011 [[Pulitzer Prize for Feature Writing]] for her reporting at ''[[The Star-Ledger]]''<ref>Vanderhoof, Tricia. [https://www.mycentraljersey.com/story/life/2018/06/04/gender-identity-becoming-nicole/663749002/ "Mondays with authors: Gender identity focus of Amy Ellis Nutt's ''Becoming Nicole''"], ''[[Courier News]]'', June 14, 2018. Accessed August 12, 2019. "Nutt was born in Staten Island and grew up in New Jersey, She has lived in Scotch Plains, Princeton, Cranbury, Bridgewater, Somerville and Watchung. She’s in Washington, D.C. now, but still keeps her 908-cell phone."</ref>
* [[Thomas W. Osborn]] (1833–1898), [[Union Army]] officer who represented [[Florida]] in the [[United States Senate]]<ref>[http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=O000109 Thomas W. Osborn], ''[[Biographical Directory of the United States Congress]]''. Accessed January 3, 2008.</ref>
* [[John Pak]] (born 1998), golfer<ref>[https://seminoles.com/sports/golf/roster/john-pak/ John Pak], [[Florida State Seminoles men's golf]]. Accessed January 17, 2020. "Hometown: Scotch Plains, N.J.; High School: Scotch Plains-Fanwood"</ref>
* [[Joe J. Plumeri]] (born 1944), Chairman and CEO of [[Willis Group]] and owner of the [[Trenton Thunder]]<ref>Freehling, Alison. [https://web.archive.org/web/20121106122602/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/dailypress/access/86107616.html?dids=86107616:86107616&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Oct+25,+1996&author=ALISON+FREEHLING+Daily+Press&pub=Daily+Press&desc=W&M+GRAD+TO+FINANCE+NEW+BALLPARK+$1.8+MILLION+DONATION+EARMARKED+FOR+BASEBALL&pqatl=google "W&M Grad To Finance New Ballpark $1.8 Million Donation Earmarked For Baseball"], ''[[Daily Press (Virginia)|Daily Press]]'', October 25, 1996. Accessed April 21, 2011. "Joseph J Plumeri, II, a financial executive living in Scotch Plains, N.J., will make the donation for a facility behind the Dillard Complex off Ironbound Road."</ref>
* [[John F. Rague]] (1799–1877), architect who designed and built the 1837 [[Illinois State Capitol#Former capitols|Old Capitol of Illinois]] and the 1840 [[Iowa Old Capitol Building|Territorial Capitol of Iowa]]<ref>Hoffman, M. M. [https://www.jstor.org/discover/10.2307/4630749?uid=3739656&uid=2129&uid=2&uid=70&uid=4&uid=3739256&sid=21101181856577 "John F. Rague, Architect"], ''[[Wisconsin Magazine of History]]'', Vol. 12, No. 1 (Sep. 1928), pp. 109–111. Accessed August 30, 2012.</ref>
* [[Cynthia Sayer]] (born 1956), jazz [[banjo]]ist<ref>Brody, Millicent K. [https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/mycentraljersey/access/1838542691.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=May+29%2C+2002&author=Millicent+K+Brody&pub=Courier+-+News&desc=Westfield+art+show+a+%22win-win%22+for+artists+and+community&pqatl=google "Westfield art show a 'win-win' for artists and community"]{{dead link|date=July 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}, ''[[Courier News]]'', May 29, 2002. Accessed August 30, 2012. "Originally from Scotch Plains, and now a resident of Manhattan, banjo player and vocalist, Cynthia Sayer was accompanied by trio members Dan Levinson on clarinet and Mike Weatherly on bass, while a variety of musicians from the Westfield Community Band and the New Jersey Workshop for the Arts entertained throughout the day."</ref><ref>Kanzler, George. "Cynthia Sayer brings friends and banjo to Zinno.", ''[[The Star-Ledger]]'', April 24, 1998, p. 32. "When she was growing up in Scotch Plains in the '60s and '70s, Cynthia Sayer wanted to be a big- band drummer."</ref>
* [[Joe Scarpati]] (born 1943), holder for [[Tom Dempsey]]'s record {{convert|63|yd|m|adj=on}} field goal in 1970<ref>[http://www.goleader.com/97nov13/sp.pdf "Honoring Former High School Greats"] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070627230622/http://www.goleader.com/97nov13/sp.pdf |date=June 27, 2007 }}, ''The Times of Scotch Plains-Fanwood'', November 13, 1997. "Mayor Connelly presented a plaque to Mr. Scarpati, who lettered in football, basketball and track for the Raiders and served as the captain of the football team in 1959. Mr. Scarpati went on to play as a defensive back for the Philadelphia Eagles and New Orleans Saints professional football teams, and was the holder of the record-setting {{convert|63|yd|m|adj=on}} field goal kicked by Tom Dempsey in 1970 during the game between the Saints and the Detroit Lions."</ref>
* [[Alan Sepinwall]] (born 1973), television reviewer and writer.<ref>[https://www.nj.com/suburbannews/2017/09/the_college_club_welcomes_alan.html "The College Club welcomes Alan Sepinwall on Oct. 23"],''Community Bulletin'', September 17, 2017. Accessed December 25, 2022. "The College Club of Fanwood-Scotch Plains welcomes Scotch Plains resident Alan Sepinwall for the program at its Oct. 23 meeting. The title of his presentation is ''What's Alan Watching?''."</ref>
* [[Marc Shaiman]] (born 1959), composer and arranger who has worked on the musical ''[[Hairspray (musical)|Hairspray]]'' and the film ''[[South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut]]''<ref>Callahan, Michael; with Chmiel, David; Miller, Jen A.; and Weiss, Jennifer. [http://www.njmonthly.com/issues/2007/01-Jan/bestofnj/index.htm "Best of Jersey"], ''[[New Jersey Monthly]]'', January 2007. Accessed May 18, 2007. "Composer Scotch Plains native Marc Shaiman, who has won an Emmy, a Grammy, and a Tony (the latter for the score to the Broadway smash Hairspray), crafts melodies you hum long after you leave the theater."</ref>
* [[John Shippen]] (1879–1968), first American golf professional and first African American to compete in the [[U.S. Open (golf)|U.S. Open]]<ref>{{cite report|type=none |url=https://www.state.nj.us/dep/hpo/1identify/SRB/2022-03-17/NJ_Union_Shady_Rest_Golf_and_Country_Club.pdf |title=National Register of Historic Places Registration: Shady Rest Golf and Country Club (Draft) |publisher=[[National Park Service]]|first1=Margaret |last1=Newman |date=July 2020 |quote=home of John Shippen, an African American golf pioneer, from 1931-1964.}}</ref>
* [[John H. Stamler]] (1938–1990), [[Union County, New Jersey]] prosecutor, who was New Jersey's first three-term County Prosecutor<ref>Staff. [https://www.nytimes.com/1990/03/27/obituaries/john-stamler-51-dies-new-jersey-prosecutor.html "John Stamler, 51, Dies; New Jersey Prosecutor"], ''[[The New York Times]]'', March 27, 1990. Accessed December 31, 2017. "John H. Stamler, the Prosecutor in Union County, N.J., for 13 years, died of cancer on Sunday at his home in Scotch Plains, N.J. He was 51 years old."</ref>
* [[Enzo Stuarti]] (1919–2005), tenor, musical theater performer<ref>Krebs, Albin. [https://www.nytimes.com/1978/01/26/archives/notes-on-people.html "Notes on People"], ''[[The New York Times]]'', January 26, 1978. Accessed December 18, 2011. "Enzo Stuarti, the nightclub and television singing star, and his wife of 30 years, Esther, were divorced in Elizabeth, N.J.... Mrs. Stuarti is to retain the family home in Scotch Plains, N.J."</ref>
* [[Samuel Swan]] (1771–1844), physician and politician who represented [[New Jersey's at-large congressional district]] from 1821 to 1831<ref>[http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=S001088 Swan, Samuel, (1771–1844)], ''[[Biographical Directory of the United States Congress]]''. Accessed October 1, 2015. "SWAN, Samuel, a Representative from New Jersey; born near Scotch Plains, Somerset County, N.J., in 1771"</ref>
* [[Lance Thomas]] (born 1988), [[Power forward (basketball)|power forward]] / [[center (basketball)|center]] for the [[New York Knicks]]<ref>Goodman, Jeff. [https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/news/lance-thomas-situation-muddy-without-answers/ "Lance Thomas situation muddy without answers; Former Duke forward Lance Thomas bought $30,000 worth of jewelry in the middle of his senior season with the Blue Devils and was also given a line of credit worth nearly $70,000 more. Thomas hardly grew up poor, but questions still need to be answered as to where the money came from."], [[CBS Sports]], September 11, 2012. Accessed August 12, 2019. "Thomas was, at one time, a highly regarded player who was pursued by all the big boys. A former high school teammate of Derrick Caracter's, he resided in the upper-middle class town of Scotch Plains, N.J., and ultimately chose Duke over hometown Rutgers."</ref>
* [[Frank Thorne]] (born 1930), comic book artist and writer best known for popularizing the [[Marvel Comics]] character [[Red Sonja]]<ref>Staff. [http://www.nj.com/suburbannews/index.ssf/2010/01/union_county_historical_societ.html "Union County Historical Society to present a book discussion featuring Illustrator Frank Thorne"], ''Suburban News'', January 11, 2010. Accessed August 27, 2011. "Frank Thorne was born in Rahway in 1930 and currently resides in Scotch Plains."</ref>
* [[Troi Torain]] (born 1964), radio host and "Star" of [[WWPR-FM#Star controversy|Star and Bucwild]]<ref>[[Lola Ogunnaike|Ogunnaike, Lola]]. [https://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/13/nyregion/13dj.html "Radio Show Host Says He's No Shock Jock"], ''[[The New York Times]]'', May 13, 2006. Accessed July 29, 2013. "In an industry in which street credibility is prized, Mr. Torain, born and raised in Scotch Plains, N.J., has always been pleased to be a product of the suburbs."</ref><ref>[http://www.comicbookdb.com/creator.php?ID=4748 Frank Thorne at the ComicBookDB]. Accessed March 20, 2008.</ref>
* [[David S. Ware]] (born 1949), jazz musician<ref>Ware, David S. [http://jazztimes.com/articles/14092-david-s-ware "David S. Ware"] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121015093325/http://jazztimes.com/articles/14092-david-s-ware |date=October 15, 2012 }}, ''[[JazzTimes]]'', June 2003. Accessed August 9, 2011. "'Come on girls, we're going to put you in the magazine,' says David S. Ware, calling Bibi and Mikuro into the music room of his three-story house in Scotch Plains, N.J.... Ware drove taxis for 14 years in New York City, where he relocated in 1973 after growing up in Scotch Plains and later attending Boston's Berklee College of Music."</ref>
* [[Melissa Murphy Weber]] (born 1969), attorney and politician who served in the [[Pennsylvania House of Representatives]] from 2003 to 2004.<ref>[http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/BiosHistory/MemBio.cfm?ID=990&body=H Melissa Murphy Weber], [[Pennsylvania House of Representatives]]. Accessed October 1, 2015. "Weber, Melissa Murphy, a Representative from Montgomery County; born in Scotch Plains, Union County, NJ, 1969"</ref>
* [[Allen Weh]] (born 1942), business executive, politician and retired [[Colonel (United States)|colonel]] in the [[United States Marine Corps Reserve]]<ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-courier-news-allen-weh-and-others-jo/169033679/ "5 Area Men Join Marines"], ''[[Courier News]]'', August 2, 1960. Accessed March 28, 2025, via [[Newspapers.com]]. "Four Plainfield men and a Scotch Plains resident enlisted in the Marine Corps at the Plainfield recruiting office in July and are undergoing recruit training at Parris Island S. C.... The new Marines are... Allen E. Weh, son of Mr. and Mrs. Edward Weh of 2274 Stocker Lane, Scotch Plains."</ref>
{{div col end}}