Editing Coney Island (section)

==Notable people==
Notable current and former residents of Coney Island include:
{{Category see also|People from Coney Island}}
* [[Bud Abbott]] (1897–1974), comedian, actor and producer. He was best known as the straight man half of the comedy duo [[Abbott and Costello]]<ref>[https://walkoffame.com/bud-abbott/ Bud Abbott], [[Hollywood Walk of Fame]]. Retrieved January 1, 2024. "His parents worked for the Barnum and Bailey Circus: his mother, Rae, was a bareback rider and his father, Harry, was an advance man. Abbott dropped out of school as a child and began working at Coney Island."</ref>
* [[Ken Auletta]] (born 1942), author, political columnist for the ''[[New York Daily News]]'' and media critic for ''[[The New Yorker]]''<ref>[[Maureen Dowd|Dowd, Maureen]]. [https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/07/style/ken-auletta-harvey-weinstein-biography.html "Ken Auletta Finally Wrote the Harvey Weinstein Story He Wanted to Tell"], ''[[The New York Times]]'', July 7, 2022. Retrieved January 1, 2024. "He noted that as a teenager growing up in Coney Island, 'I was not quite a juvenile delinquent but I walked around with my sleeves rolled up.'"</ref>
* [[Joe Bonomo (strongman)]] (1901–1978), weightlifter, strongman, film stunt performer and actor<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/1978/04/01/archives/joe-bonomo-star-of-the-silent-films-began-as-stuntman.html "Joe Bonomo, Star of the Silent Films; Began as Stuntman"], ''[[The New York Times]]'', April 4, 1978. Retrieved January 1, 2024. "Mr. Bonomo was born in the Coney Island. section of Brooklyn."</ref>
* [[Jerry Della Femina]] (born 1936), advertising executive and restaurateur<ref>Della Famina, Jerry. [https://nymag.com/nymetro/news/people/features/2439/ "30th Anniversary Issue / Jerry Della Femina: (M)Adman"], ''[[New York (magazine)|New York]]'', April 6, 1998. Retrieved January 1, 2024. "I came from a poor family in Coney Island. I learned to write by reading the ''Post''."</ref>
* [[Mary E. Dillon]] (1886–1983), businesswoman and president of Brooklyn Borough Gas Company<ref>Spellen, Suzanne. [https://www.brownstoner.com/history/walkabout-miss-dillons-gas-company-part-one/ "Walkabout: Miss Dillon's Gas Company"], Brownstoner, June 24, 2014. Retrieved January 1, 2024. "Also in Brooklyn as the new century progressed, lived a young woman named Mary E. Dillon. Miss Dillon was a senior at Erasmus Hall High School in Flatbush. She lived on Coney Island, and was the second oldest of twelve children."</ref>
* [[Harold Feinstein]] (1931–2015), photographer<ref>Fox, Killian. [https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2019/may/05/harold-feinstein-last-stop-coney-island-photography "Photographer Harold Feinstein, the unsung chronicler of Coney Island"], ''[[The Guardian]]'', May 5, 2019. Retrieved January 1, 2024. "It began with a great outpouring of images. At 15, Harold Feinstein borrowed his neighbour's Rolleiflex camera and started shooting scenes of everyday life on the streets and boardwalks of south Brooklyn. The year was 1946 and Coney Island, where Feinstein grew up, was still popular with New Yorkers, who flocked to its amusement parks and beaches in the summertime to let their hair down."</ref>
* [[Gene Feist]] (1923–2014), playwright, theater director and co-founder of the [[Roundabout Theater Company]]<ref>Weber, Bruce. [https://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/23/nyregion/gene-feist-founder-of-the-roundabout-theater-company-is-dead-at-91.html "Gene Feist, Founder of Roundabout Theater Company, Dies at 91"], ''[[The New York Times]]'', March 22, 2014. Retrieved January 1, 2024. "Eugene Feist was born on Jan. 16, 1923, in Brooklyn and grew up in the rugged Coney Island neighborhood, where his father, Henry, who was called Hennie, owned a bar known as the Bucket of Blood and where young Gene was something of an outcast for his interest in books."</ref>
* [[Irving Feldman]] (born 1928), poet and professor of English<ref>[https://waywiser-press.com/irving-feldman/ Irving Feldman], The Waywiser Press, July 9, 2019. Retrieved January 1, 2024. "Born in Coney Island, New York in 1928 and educated at the College of the City of New York and Columbia University, Irving Feldman taught at the University of Puerto Rico, the University of Lyon and Kenyon College before his appointment to SUNY at Buffalo in 1964 – from which he retired as Distinguished Professor of English in 2004."</ref>
* [[Sandra Feldman]] (1939–2005), educator and labor leader who served as president of the [[American Federation of Teachers]]<ref>Holley, Joe. [https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/2005/09/20/teachers-union-chief-sandra-feldman/41d66eb3-88b1-4da2-89fe-a68d6ed64c15/ "Teachers Union Chief Sandra Feldman"], ''[[The Washington Post]]'', September 20, 2005. Retrieved January 1, 2024. "Sandra Feldman, 65, a tough and spirited former teacher and labor leader who went from an impoverished childhood in a Coney Island tenement to the presidency of the nation's second-largest teachers union, died of breast cancer Sept. 18 at her home in New York City."</ref>
* [[Nat Finkelstein]] (1933–2009), photographer and photojournalist<ref>[[William Grimes (journalist)|Grimes, William]]. [https://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/13/arts/13finkelstein.html "Nat Finkelstein, 'Court Photographer' of Andy Warhol's Factory, Dies at 76"], ''[[The New York Times]]'', October 13, 2009. Retrieved January 1, 2024. "Nathan Louis Finkelstein was born in Brooklyn on Jan. 16, 1933. He grew up in Coney Island and attended Stuyvesant High School."</ref>
* [[Debbie Goad]] (1954–2000), journalist and assistant editor of the magazine ''[[Answer Me!]]''<ref>Smith, RJ. [https://books.google.com/books?id=YG5YubNw1pgC&pg=PA102 "American Psycho"], ''[[Spin (magazine)]]'', January 1999. Retrieved January 1, 2024. "Debbie Goad lived in Coney Island with her father and two uncles."</ref>
* [[Arlene Gottfried]] (1950–2017), street photographer who was known for recording the candid scenes of ordinary daily life<ref>Piepenbring, Dan. [https://www.newyorker.com/culture/photo-booth/arlene-gottfried-new-york-through-the-eyes-of-her-brother-gilbert-gottfried "Arlene Gottfried's New York, Through the Eyes of Her Brother Gilbert Gottfried"], ''[[The New Yorker]]'', April 1, 2018. Retrieved January 1, 2024. "The Gottfrieds were born in Coney Island-five years apart, with their sister Karen between them-where their father ran a hardware store."</ref>
* [[Gilbert Gottfried]] (1955–2022), stand-up comedian and actor, best known for his exaggerated shrill voice<ref>Bredderman, Will. [https://www.brooklynpaper.com/gilbert-gottfried-shows-his-range/ "Gilbert Gottfried shows his range"], ''Brooklyn Paper'', October 15, 2012. Retrieved January 1, 2024. "Will Bredderman: So you're a Brooklyn native, right? Which neighborhood? Gilbert Gottfried: Coney Island, that was where I was born. Then we moved to Crown Heights, then Borough Park."</ref>
* [[Marty Greenbaum]] (1934–2020), painter, mixed media assemblage and book artist<ref>McCormack, Jeannie. [https://www.galleryand.studio/2021/01/03/remembering-artist-marty-greenbaum-1934-2020/ "Remembering Artist Marty Greenbaum (1934–2020)"], Gallery and Studio, January 3, 2021. Retrieved January 1, 2024. "On reading Marty's narrative/bio we learn that he grew up in Coney Island where he worked summers in the Penny Arcades, and was inspired by the carnival atmosphere which he reflected in his work throughout his life."</ref>
* [[Pamela Harris (politician)|Pamela Harris]], politician who was a member of the [[New York State Assembly]] representing the 46th Assembly District from 2015 to 2018<ref>[https://www.justice.gov/usao-edny/pr/former-brooklyn-assemblywoman-sentenced-prison-multiple-fraud-schemes-and-witness "Former Brooklyn Assemblywoman Sentenced to Prison for Multiple Fraud Schemes and Witness Tampering"], [[United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York]], October 24, 2018. Retrieved January 1, 2024. "Between 2012 and 2014, Harris defrauded FEMA out of nearly $25,000 in temporary relocation funds by falsely claiming that she had been forced out of her Coney Island residence because of damage caused by Hurricane Sandy."</ref>
* [[Marcus Illions]] ({{Circa|1871}}–1949), master carver of wooden carousel horses in the early 20th century, who was called "the Michelangelo of carousel carvers" by ''[[The New York Times]]''<ref>[https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1949/08/14/93543943.html?zoom=16&pageNumber=68 "M.C. Illions Dies; Carousel Maker"], ''[[The New York Times]]'', August 14, 1949. Retrieved January 1, 2024. "Marcus Charles Illions of 2836 West Eight Street, Coney Island, a wood carver and maker of carousels, died Thursday in Brooklyn Hospital, after a brief illness."</ref>
* [[Rena Kanokogi]] (1935–2009), judo expert<ref>Tracy, Thomas. [https://www.brooklynpaper.com/rena-kanokogi-judo-pioneer-dies-2/ "Rena Kanokogi, judo pioneer, dies"], ''Brooklyn Paper'', November 30, 2009. Retrieved January 1, 2024. "Through it all, however, she never strayed too far from her Brooklyn roots. She ultimately left Coney Island, only to move into nearby Sheepshead Bay, friends recalled."</ref>
* [[Robert Kirsch]] (1922–1980), literary critic and author, who was the literary editor of the ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' for two decades<ref>Thackery, Ted Jr. [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times-obituary-for-rober/113255555/ "Robert Kirsch, ''Times'' Literary Editor for 23 Years, Dies in Santa Barbara"], ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'', August 17, 1980. Retrieved January 1, 2024, via [[Newspapers.com]]. "Kirsch was born Oct. 18, 1922, on the gaudy, surreal Brooklyn pleasure peninsula of Coney Island. And, in a sense, he never really left there. 'I ran away at 17', he said. 'But Coney Island didn't leave me.'&thinsp;"</ref>
* [[Stephon Marbury]] (born 1977), former professional basketball player<ref>[https://tv.apple.com/us/movie/a-kid-from-coney-island/umc.cmc.1cwashpaik1ysrwd9blvh57bo ''A Kid From Coney Island''], [[Apple TV]]. Retrieved January 1, 2024. "Coney Island, New York is famous for a few things: Nathan's Hot Dogs, Spike Lee's ''He Got Game''. and a kid from the housing projects named Stephon Marbury."</ref>
* [[Pellegrino Morano]] (1877–unknown), head of a group of Neapolitan criminals with roots in the [[Camorra]]<ref>[https://www.harlemworldmagazine.com/giosue-the-king-of-harlems-little-italy-gallucci-1865-1915/ "Giosue 'The King of (Harlem's) Little Italy' Gallucci, 1865–1915"], ''Harlem World'', July 11, 2015. Retrieved January 1, 2024. "The money for the hit was probably provided by Coney Island Camorra boss Pellegrino Morano in an effort to take over Gallucci's rackets."</ref>
* [[Nikita Nesterenko]] (born 2001), professional ice hockey center who currently plays for the [[San Diego Gulls]]<ref>[https://bceagles.com/news/2023/2/22/mens-hockey-nesterenko-named-hockey-east-player-of-the-week "Nesterenko Named Hockey East Player of the Week"], [[Boston College Eagles men's ice hockey]], February 22, 2023. "The Coney Island native has already established new career-highs in goals (10) and points (27) and is one assist away from setting a new career-best."</ref>
* [[Rhea Perlman]] (born 1948), actress<ref>Myers, Marc. [https://www.wsj.com/articles/poms-actress-rhea-perlman-on-her-wild-ride-from-coney-island-to-emmy-winner-11556635741 "'Poms' Actress Rhea Perlman on Her Wild Ride From Coney Island to Emmy Winner"], ''[[The Wall Street Journal]]'', April 30, 2019. Retrieved January 1, 2024. "When I tell most people I was born in the Coney Island section of Brooklyn, their first reaction is awe."</ref>
* [[E. J. Perry (artist)|E. J. Perry]] (1880–1946), early-twentieth-century silhouette artist<ref>Washington, Eric K. [https://www.gothamcenter.org/blog/ej-perry-african-american-silhouette-cutter-of-americas-leisure-circuit The Gotham Center for New York City History].[[The Gotham Center for New York City History]], December 17, 2013. Retrieved January 1, 2024. "Although ancient Lenape Indians once called it the 'land without shadows', Coney Island would perfectly suit one artist who made shadows his stock in trade. E.J. Perry was a king of keepsakes."</ref>
* [[Joe Rollino]] (1905–2010), weightlifter and strongman who dubbed himself the world's strongest man in the 1920s<ref>Fernandez, Manny; Schmidt, Michael S. [https://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/12/nyregion/12ironman.html "At a Mighty 104, Gone While Still Going Strong"], ''[[The New York Times]]'', January 11, 2010. Retrieved January 1, 2024. "He later boxed under the name Kid Dundee, became a Coney Island performer, worked as a longshoreman, fought in World War II and had a bit part in ''On the Waterfront'' that never made the film, not necessarily in that order."</ref>
* [[Larry Rosenberg]] (born 1932), Buddhist teacher<ref>[https://www.awecosocial.com/mindfulness-room-design Mindfulness Room Design 2015 – present], awecosocial.com. Retrieved January 1, 2024. "Larry Rosenberg, a renowned scholar mindfulness practice comes from Coney Island, Brooklyn."</ref>
* [[Jay Sexter]], educator who was the president of [[Mercy University|Mercy College]]<ref>[https://www.5tjt.com/touro-honors-retiring-officials/ "Touro Honors Retiring Officials"], ''[[Five Towns Jewish Times]]'', June 25, 2015. Retrieved January 1, 2024. "Originally from Coney Island, Dr. Sexter said that he never planned to specialize in medical programs."</ref>
* [[Ayisha Siddiqa]] (born 1999), climate justice advocate<ref>[https://www.fossilfreeuniversity.org/faculty/ayisha-siddiqa Ayisha Siddiqa], Fossil Free University. Retrieved January 1, 2024. "Ayisha Siddiqa Ayisha Siddiqa is a 21-year-old Pakistani Climate justice advocate living in Coney Island, NY, a coastal area highly prone to hurricanes and floods."</ref>
* [[Don Snyder]] (1934–2010), photographer and multimedia artist<ref>[https://www.amny.com/news/don-snyder-76-artistic-photog-shot-coney-leary/ "Don Snyder, 76, artistic photog shot Coney, Leary"], ''The Villager'', September 15, 2010. Retrieved January 1, 2024. "Born in Brooklyn in 1934, Snyder began to photograph the raffish world of Coney Island as a teenager and attached himself to photographers whose work he admired."</ref>
* [[George C. Tilyou]] (1862–1914), entrepreneur and showman who founded [[Steeplechase Park]]<ref>[https://www.coneyislandhistory.org/hall-of-fame/george-c-tilyou George C. Tilyou; Founder of Steeplechase], Coney Island History Project. Retrieved January 1, 2024. "Tilyou came with his parents to Coney Island in 1865 at the tender age of three. His father, Peter, opened a small wooden bathhouse and restaurant on the beach, and young George was soon selling bottles of souvenir sand to visitors."</ref>
* [[Burt Topper]] (1928–2007), film director and screenwriter best known for cult films<ref>[https://variety.com/2007/film/news/burt-topper-78-filmmaker-1117962505/ "Burt Topper, 78, filmmaker"], ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'', April 4, 2007. Retrieved January 1, 2024. "Born in Coney Island, NY, Topper moved to L.A. at the age of 8, and served in the Navy during WWII."</ref>
* [[Arthur Tress]] (born 1940), photographer known for his staged surrealism<ref>[https://www.sohophoto.com/2021/04/22/speaker-series-arthur-tress/ ▶️ Video: Arthur Tress Talks About Magic Realism, Wednesday, April 28, 2021], Soho Photo Gallery. Retrieved January 1, 2024. "Born in Brooklyn in 1940, Arthur Tress began his first camera work as a teen in the surreal neighborhood of Coney Island."</ref>