Editing Linden, New Jersey (section)

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

{{div col}}
* [[Amelia Brodka]] (born 1989), Olympic athlete and professional skateboarder<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://spectrumnews1.com/ca/la-west/sports/2021/07/23/amelia-brodka-talks-excitement-over-skateboarding-s-olympic-debut|title=Amelia Brodka talks excitement over skateboarding's Olympic debut|website=spectrumnews1.com}}</ref>
* [[Deidre Davis Butler]] (1955–2020), lawyer, disability rights activist and federal official<ref>[[Neil Genzlinger|Genzlinger, Neil]]. [https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/21/us/deidre-davis-butler-who-fought-for-disability-rights-dies-at-64.html "Deidre Davis Butler, Who Fought for Disability Rights, Dies at 64; A wheelchair user herself, she helped draft a landmark law and held government posts championing people with disabilities, especially those of color."], ''[[The New York Times]]'', August 21, 2020. Accessed August 23, 2020. "Deidre Ann Davis was born on Sept. 26, 1955, in Elizabeth, N.J., to Hilton and Bernice (Jones) Davis and grew up in nearby Linden."</ref>
* [[Kevin Carolan]] (born 1968), actor and comedian<ref>Kolton, Tara. [http://www.northjersey.com/arts-and-entertainment/theater/actor-with-wanaque-roots-takes-the-broadway-stage-in-newsies-the-musical-on-broadway-in-newsies-as-tr-1.456974?page=all "Actor with Wanaque roots takes the Broadway stage in ''Newsies the Musical''"], ''Suburban Trends'', September 6, 2012. Accessed January 27, 2015. "Now a resident of Linden, Carolan grew up in Wanaque and attended the St. Francis of Assisi School before graduating from Neumann Prep in Wayne."</ref>
* [[Roger Chanoine]] (1976–2016), [[Tackle (gridiron football position)|offensive tackle]] who played in the NFL between 1998 and 2002, primarily for the [[Cleveland Browns]]<ref>[https://owlsports.com/news/2016/7/19/football-former-owl-roger-chanoine-passes "Former Owl Roger Chanoine Passes"], [[Temple Owls football]], July 19, 2016. Accessed February 5, 2025. "The Linden, N.J. native was a three-year starter for the Owls under head coach Ron Dickerson."</ref>
* [[John Charles (American football)|John Charles]] (born 1944), former cornerback and safety who played eight seasons in the National Football League<ref>via [[Associated Press]]. [https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=L-tTAAAAIBAJ&sjid=FDkNAAAAIBAJ&pg=4165,4733125&dq=john-charles+linden+football&hl=en "Purdue Loses Top Defender"], ''[[St. Joseph News-Press]]'', October 21, 1966. Accessed July 23, 2012. "The 6-1, 195-pound senior from Linden, N.J., was hurt just before the close of the day's practice."</ref>
* [[Nick Christiani]] (born 1987), former baseball pitcher who played for the [[Cincinnati Reds]]<ref>[https://vucommodores.com/roster/nick-christiani/ Nick Christiani], [[Vanderbilt Commodores baseball]]. Accessed June 3, 2020. "Born 7/17/87 in Linden, N.J."</ref>
* [[Jerome A. Cohen]] (born 1930), professor of law at [[New York University School of Law]] and an expert in Chinese law<ref>[http://www.digifind-it.com/linden/data/news/newspapers/1951/1951-06-21.pdf "Jerome A Cohen To Study Abroad"], ''Linden Observer'', June 21, 1951. Accessed May 19, 2021. "Jerome Alan Cohen, of 623 North Wood avenue, was awarded the degree of bachelor of arts at the 230th commencement of Yale University.... He is a graduate of Linden High School."</ref>
* [[George Thomas Coker]] (born 1943), [[United States Navy]] navigator who spent over six years as a POW after being shot down over [[North Vietnam]] in 1966<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/1973/03/05/archives/a-jersey-pow-among-released-freeing-of-navigator-brings-happy-tears.html "A Jersey P.O.W. Among Released; Freeing of Navigator Brings Happy Tears in Linden"], ''[[The New York Times]]'', March 5, 1973. Accessed December 5, 2007.</ref>
* [[Danny Dias]] ({{circa|1983}}–2017), activist and reality television personality who starred on season 13 on [[MTV]]'s [[Road Rules]], ''[[Road Rules: X-Treme]]'', in 2004<ref>[https://www.heraldtribune.com/entertainment/20170607/road-rules-star-danny-dias-dead-at-34 "Road Rules Star Danny Dias Dead at 34"], ''[[Sarasota Herald]]'', June 7, 2017. Accessed June 3, 2020. "Dias, a native of Linden, New Jersey, competed on ''Road Rules: X-Treme'', which took place in Argentina and Chile."</ref>
* [[Tamecka Dixon]] (born 1975), professional basketball player who played for 13 seasons in the [[WNBA]]<ref>[https://kuathletics.com/roster/tamecka-dixon/ Tamecka Dixon], [[Kansas Jayhawks women's basketball]]. Accessed June 3, 2020. "Hometown: Linden, N.J."</ref>
* [[Waliyy Dixon]] (born 1974), a.k.a. "Main Event" on the [[AND1 Mixtape Tour]]; one of the original players on the famous [[AND1]]-sponsored [[streetball]] tours<ref>[http://www.lindenathletichalloffame.org/hon08-1.html Linden Athletic Hall of Fame] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090403022543/http://www.lindenathletichalloffame.org/hon08-1.html |date=2009-04-03 }}. Accessed January 30, 2009.</ref>
* [[Carolyn Dorin-Ballard]] (born 1964), professional [[Ten-pin bowling|bowler]] and TV bowling analyst, [[United States Bowling Congress|USBC]] Hall of Famer<ref>Pezzano, Chuck. [https://web.archive.org/web/20110516162449/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-51004723.html "Bohn, Dorin-Ballard Reap More Accolades"], ''[[The Record (North Jersey)|The Record]]'', February 24, 2002. Accessed May 13, 2007. "Parker Bohn III of Jackson and Carolyn Dorin-Ballard of Linden were named honorary captains of the recently announced All-America teams in polls conducted by the American Bowling Congress and Women's International Bowling Congress."</ref>
* [[Cathy Dorin-Lizzi]] (born 1966), professional bowler and TV bowling analyst, sister of Carolyn<ref>Caballero, Paula. [http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=ST&s_site=dfw&p_multi=ST&p_theme=realcities&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EAF911AB55ACA43&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM "Inside Bowling; Sisters have historic meeting in LPBT finals"], ''[[Fort Worth Star-Telegram]]'', June 23, 1997. Accessed May 13, 2007." Cathy Dorin of Linden, N.J., outdueled sister Carolyn Dorin-Ballard of North Richland Hills, 245-203, Thursday in the first stepladder match of the $65,000 Sam's Town Tunica Mid South Classic in Memphis, Tenn."</ref>
* [[Calvin Duncan (basketball)|Calvin Duncan]] (born 1961), pastor and former professional basketball player who was selected by the [[Cleveland Cavaliers]] in the second round (30th pick overall) of [[1985 NBA draft]]<ref>[http://www.thedraftreview.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2157 Calvin Duncan]. The Draft Review. 2009. Accessed September 15, 2009.</ref><ref>Berman, Zach. [https://www.nj.com/college-basketball/2011/03/vcu_success_story_calvin_duncan_has_jersey_roots.html "VCU success story Calvin Duncan has Jersey roots"], ''[[The Star-Ledger]]'', March 31, 2011, updated March 31, 2019. Accessed May 17, 2020. "Calvin Duncan was 18 in 1979 with a budding basketball career, a laughable transcript and no parents. The aunt who raised him in Linden remained bedridden from a stroke. Needing improved test scores and a new environment, Duncan transferred from Linden High School to Oak Hill Academy in rural Virginia — as removed from Linden as he figured he could go."</ref>
* [[John T. Gregorio]] (1928−2013), politician who served as mayor of Linden, in the [[New Jersey General Assembly]] from 1976 to 1978 and in the [[New Jersey Senate]] from 1978 to 1983<ref>Khavkine, Richard. [https://www.nj.com/union/2013/10/john_t_gregorio_the_lion_of_linden_dies_at_87.html "John T. Gregorio, the Lion of Linden, dies at 87"], NJ Advance Media for [[NJ.com]], October 23, 2013, updated March 30, 2019. Accessed June 3, 2020. "John T. Gregorio, a Democratic icon who served eight terms as a charismatic and colorful mayor of Linden, died today. He was 87."</ref>
* [[Linda Hayes (singer)|Linda Hayes]] (1923–1998; nee Bertha Williams), jazz and R&B singer<ref>Eagle, Bob L.; and LeBlanc, Eric S. [https://books.google.com/books?id=6ZNfAQAAQBAJ&pg=PA265 ''Blues: A Regional Experience''], p. 265. [[ABC-CLIO]], 2013. {{ISBN|9780313344244}}. Accessed November 24, 2014. "Linda Hayes (Bertha Lulu Williams) (v) (Linden, Union County, December 10, 1923—[Bertha L. Roberson] Atlanta, Georgia, May 26, 1998)."</ref>
* [[George Hudak]] (1935–1996), politician who represented the [[New Jersey's 20th legislative district|20th Legislative District]] in the [[New Jersey General Assembly]] from 1986 to 1994 and was mayor of Linden from 1983 to 1987<ref>Russell, Suzanne C. [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/55205492/obituary-for-george-hudak-aged-61/ "George Hudak Dies; 'Too Nice' For Politics"], ''The Central Jersey Home News'', November 6, 1996. Accessed July 12, 2020. "Mr. Hudak was a lifelong resident of Linden."</ref>
* [[Eddie Kasko]] (1931–2020), infielder, manager, scout and front office executive in [[Major League Baseball]]<ref>Crehan, Herbert F. [https://books.google.com/books?id=Pjw3k_MbzrgC&pg=PA191 ''Red Sox Heroes of Yesteryear''], p. 191. [[Rounder Books]], 2005. {{ISBN|9781579401184}}. Accessed May 13, 2007. "I was the last one cut, but I headed home to Linden, New Jersey, Figuring I had better get a job."</ref>
* [[Thomas Lanigan-Schmidt]] (born 1948), artist and veteran of the [[Stonewall riots]]<ref>[http://www.housing.wisc.edu/diversity/lgbtclass/stonewell_bio.php Stonewall Rebellion] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110728124354/http://www.housing.wisc.edu/diversity/lgbtclass/stonewell_bio.php |date=2011-07-28 }}, [[University of Wisconsin]]. Accessed April 22, 2011. "Thomas Lanigan-Schmidt was born in 1948 and raised in the multi-ethnic Catholic enclaves of Elizabeth and Linden, New Jersey."</ref>
* [[Mike Nardi]] (born 1985), basketball player who has played for [[Scavolini Spar Pesaro]] in the Italian League – Serie A<ref>Wielgus, Jennifer. [http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=BURB&p_multi=LBCB&p_theme=burb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=126E59F86B004D00&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM "Villanova product Nardi ready to hold court"], ''[[Bucks County Courier Times]]'', July 6, 2008. Accessed July 23, 2012. "His team bused all over Italy to play, with trips taking up to six hours through mountains and countryside - a far cry from Nardi's urban hometown of Linden, N.J."</ref>
* [[Vincent Obsitnik]] (born 1938), [[United States Ambassador to Slovakia|Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Slovak Republic]]<ref>Staff. [https://www.usna.com/SSLPage.aspx?referrer=NewsServicesOP&pid=7847 U.S. ambassador returns to Linden (Obsitnik '59)], [[United States Naval Academy]], May 6, 2009. Accessed July 23, 2011. "Obsitnik shared his story of being born in Slovakia and moving to Linden as a child. He listed his addresses in Linden: his first house, at 308 East Elm St.; the house at 714 Roselle St. that his parents rented; and 308 East Curtis St., which his father built. From there, Obsitnik attended the Naval Academy and worked as an executive for IBM, Unisys and Litton Corp. Obsitnik graduated from Linden High School in 1955, and he recalled a few differences between the 1950s and today. Uniforms were one."</ref>
* [[Mike Pringley]] (born 1976), former [[American football]] [[defensive end]] who played in the NFL for the [[Detroit Lions]] and [[History of the San Diego Chargers|San Diego Chargers]]<ref>[https://goheels.com/sports/football/roster/mike-pringley/684 Mike Pringley], [[North Carolina Tar Heels football]]. Accessed February 24, 2020. "Hometown: Linden, N.J.; High School: Linden"</ref>
* [[Giovanni Riggi]] (1925–2015), mobster and member of the DeCavalcante crime family since the 1940s<ref>Staff. [http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=WT&p_theme=wt&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB0EFAB7696985C&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM "Feds indict reputed mob boss"], ''[[The Washington Times]]'', July 15, 1992. Accessed July 23, 2012. "Giovanni Riggi, 67, of Linden, N.J., is the fifth alleged mob boss whom federal grand juries in Brooklyn have indicted in the last 18 months."</ref>
* [[Jon Rua]] (born 1983), actor, singer and choreographer who appeared in the Broadway hit ''[[Hamilton (musical)|Hamilton]]''<ref>Iati, Marisa. [http://www.nj.com/union/index.ssf/2016/07/hamilton_star_talks_broadway_and_his_nj_roots_at_f.html "'Hamilton' star talks Broadway and his N.J. roots"], NJ Advance Media for [[NJ.com]], July 13, 2016. Accessed August 29, 2017. "Rua chatted with a full house in Elizabeth last week about how his childhood in Union County inspires and shapes his push to create theater, music and dance that strike audience members at their core. Rua, now 32, was born in Elizabeth and grew up in Linden."</ref>
* [[Nicholas Scutari]] (born 1968), politician, who has been serving in the [[New Jersey Senate]] since 2004, where he represents the [[New Jersey's 22nd legislative district|22nd Legislative District]]<ref>[[Richard Pérez-Peña|Pérez-Peña, Richard]]. [https://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/24/nyregion/24marijuana.html "New Jersey's Medical Marijuana Law Loses Planned Grower and Dispensers"], ''[[The New York Times]]'', July 23, 2010. Accessed June 3, 2020. "State Senator Nicholas P. Scutari, a Democrat from Linden who was the other main sponsor, said that Mr. Christie wanted too much control over the program and that the state would have no choice but to approve private growers."</ref>
* [[Danny Stiles]] (1923–2011), radio personality at WNYC, WNSW, WJDM and WPAT in the New York City market<ref>Model, Eric. [http://www.newjerseynewsroom.com/movies/danny-stiles-the-vicar-of-vintage-endures-even-after-his-passing "Danny Stiles: The 'Vicar of Vintage' endures even after his passing"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130106163419/http://www.newjerseynewsroom.com/movies/danny-stiles-the-vicar-of-vintage-endures-even-after-his-passing |date=2013-01-06 }}, NewJerseyNewsroom.com, June 20, 2011. Accessed July 23, 2012. "Danny Stiles was born in 1923 and grew up in Newark and Linden during the Great Depression. After graduating from high school in 1941, he enlisted for the Navy after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. After being honorably discharged due to an injured hip, Stiles went to college and held several jobs before starting his radio career."</ref>
* [[Troy Stradford]] (born 1964), former [[running back]] who played for six seasons in the NFL<ref>Thomsen, Ian. [https://archive.today/20130104134909/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/boston/access/662115691.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Aug+27,+1985&author=Ian+Thomsen,+Globe+Staff&pub=Boston+Globe+(pre-1997+Fulltext)&desc=HE'S+IN+A+STATE+OF+ANTICIPATION;+BC'S+STRADFORD+EYES+A+BIG+YEAR&pqatl=google "He's In A State Of Anticipation; Bc's Stradford Eyes A Big Year"], ''[[The Boston Globe]]'', August 27, 1985. Accessed July 20, 2012. "He was a 5-foot-8-inch basketball player who could dunk two-handed, but [Troy Stradford] was mainly a 1,000-yard tailback each of his last two years at Linden High School."</ref>
* [[Joseph Suliga]] (1958–2005), former member of the [[New Jersey Senate]] who was the youngest person ever elected to the Linden Public Schools Board of Education, at the age of 19<ref>Becker, Arielle, Levin. [https://web.archive.org/web/20120724090218/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/mycentraljersey/access/1788998011.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Feb+20%2C+2005&author=ARIELLE+LEVIN+BECKER&pub=Home+News+Tribune&desc=Ex-senator+mourned+in+Linden&pqatl=google "Ex-senator mourned in Linden"], ''[[Home News Tribune]]'', February 20, 2005. Accessed July 23, 2011. "Union County Democratic Chairwoman Charlotte DeFilippo recalled the day 27 years ago when the 19-year-old Suliga walked into her office, wearing a suit and looking younger than his 19 years, and announced that he was running for the Linden school board."</ref>
* [[Craig Taylor (American football)|Craig Taylor]] (born 1966), former running back for the [[Cincinnati Bengals]]<ref>Staff. [https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=W3IcAAAAIBAJ&sjid=0WIEAAAAIBAJ&pg=7040,4054399&dq=craig-taylor+linden&hl=en "Closing comes early for Bellevue Stratford"], ''[[The Pittsburgh Press]]'', March 5, 1986. Accessed April 22, 2011. "Rose was named in warrants sworn by Jones and Craig Taylor, another WVU football player of Linden, N.J."</ref>
* [[Chester A. Weidenburner]] (1913–1985), lawyer and judge who served as [[United States Attorney for the District of New Jersey|U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey]] and as a Judge of the [[New Jersey Superior Court]]<ref>Staff. [https://www.nytimes.com/1985/12/11/nyregion/chester-weidenburner-dies-ex-judge-and-us-attorney.html "Chester Weidenburner Dies; Ex-Judge and U.S. Attorney"], ''[[The New York Times]]'', December 11, 1985. Accessed June 3, 2020. "Chester Weidenburner, a former New Jersey Superior Court judge and United States Attorney, died Sunday at the Elizabeth (N.J.) General Medical Center. He was 72 years old and lived in Linden, N.J."</ref>
* [[Muhammad Wilkerson]] (born 1989), defensive end who has played for the [[New York Jets]]<ref>Vrentas, Jenny. [http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2011/04/former_linden_high_star_muhamm.html "Former Linden High star Muhammad Wilkerson likely to be first New Jerseyan selected in 2011 NFL Draft"], ''[[The Star-Ledger]]'', April 25, 2011. Accessed July 23, 2011. "Raised in Elizabeth and Linden, Wilkerson grew up a Giants fan until he became simply a fan of the game. The third of four children, he and his mother share a close connection, reinforced by their tradition of sending 'hugs' in daily text messages."</ref>
* [[Robert Zarinsky]] (1940–2008), convicted murderer and suspected serial killer<ref>Russell, Suzanne C. [https://web.archive.org/web/20120724112218/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/app/access/1851859761.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Aug+19%2C+1999&author=SUZANNE+C+RUSSELL&pub=Asbury+Park+Press&desc=Unsolved+killings+probed&pqatl=google "Unsolved killings probed"], ''[[Asbury Park Press]]'', August 19, 1999. Accessed April 22, 2011. "Law enforcement officials today will resume their search of a Linden home owned by Robert Zarinsky, the man serving a life sentence for the 1969 killing of a 17-year-old Atlantic Highlands girl whose body was never found."</ref>
{{div col end}}