{"id":2476787,"date":"2026-06-26T12:56:56","date_gmt":"2026-06-26T12:56:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/?p=2476787"},"modified":"2026-06-26T12:56:56","modified_gmt":"2026-06-26T12:56:56","slug":"new-jersey-hall-of-fame-announces-class-of-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/new-jersey-hall-of-fame-announces-class-of-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"New Jersey Hall of Fame announces Class of 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Listen to this article<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

The basics:<\/h4>\n\n

The New Jersey Hall of Fame<\/a> announced its\u00a0class of 2026 on\u00a0June 25. The inductees span the worlds of entertainment, business, sports and more.\n<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Class of 2026 showcases the diverse talent, resilience, and spirit of achievement that define the great state of New Jersey,\u201d\u00a0Jon Hanson, chairman of the Hall of Fame as well as The Hampshire Cos., said in a statement.\u00a0\u201cEach inductee, through their creativity, leadership, and pursuit of excellence, has made impactful contributions that continue to inspire future generations.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

Past honorees<\/a> have included JBJ Soul Kitchen co-founder Dorothea Bongiovi<\/a>; restaurateur and chef David Burke; Jersey Mike\u2019s Subs founder Peter Cancro<\/a>; actress Meryl Streep<\/a>; former New York Giants running back Tiki Barber<\/a>; and more than 250 other notable Garden State greats.<\/p>\n

This spring, New Jerseyans were invited to vote from a slate of 60 candidates<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"17th\"17th
Jon Bon Jovi and wife Dorothea Bongiovi at the 17th Annual New Jersey Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on Nov. 21, 2025, at The Rink @ The Arena at American Dream. Bongiovi was inducted as an Unsung Hero to honor her work as founder and program director of JBJ Soul Kitchen,<\/a> a \u201cpay-it-forward\u201d community restaurant model. \u2013 PROVIDED BY NJHOF<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>\n

Save the date<\/h2>\n

This year\u2019s inductees will be honored at the 18th Annual NJHOF Induction Ceremony Sept. 24 at the new 3,000-seat Dream Live Performing Arts Center<\/a> at American Dream. The East Rutherford megamall is\u00a0also home to the Hall of Fame\u2019s $20 million Entertainment and Learning Center, which opened in\u00a0June 2024<\/a>.\n<\/p>\n

Garden State native, actor, comedian and filmmaker\u00a0Danny DeVito<\/a> will once again host the annual event<\/a>.<\/p>\n

General admission ticket sales for the event will be announced later. As in years past, the Hall of Fame\u00a0may also announce\u00a0other inductees before the ceremony.\n<\/p>\n

The New Jersey Hall of Fame Class of 2026:<\/h3>\n

Arts & Letters<\/span><\/h4>\n

Big Joe Henry<\/strong>
New Jersey radio personality and philanthropist<\/i>\n<\/p>\n

Education, Research, Engineering & Science<\/span><\/h4>\n

Geraldine Dodge<\/strong> (posthumous)<\/i>
Author, philanthropist and benefactor of the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation<\/i>\n<\/p>\n

Thomas Eastwick<\/strong>
Founder and president of Eastwick College and the HoHoKus School of Trade and Technical Sciences<\/i>\n<\/p>\n

Enterprise<\/span><\/h4>\n

James Burke<\/strong> (posthumous)<\/i>
Former CEO of Johnson & Johnson<\/i>\n<\/p>\n

Robert Garrett<\/strong>
CEO of Hackensack Meridian Health<\/i>\n<\/p>\n

Christopher\u00a0Paladino<\/strong>
President of New Brunswick Development Corporation (DEVCO)<\/i><\/p>\n

\"SZA\"\"SZA\"
SZA, Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter and Academy Award nominee, is now also a 2026 New Jersey Hall of Fame inductee. \u2013 PHOTO BY CASSIDY MEYERS\/PROVIDED BY NJHOF<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>\n

Performing Arts & Entertainment<\/span><\/h4>\n

The Rascals<\/strong>
American rock band<\/i>\n<\/p>\n

SZA<\/strong>
Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter and Academy Award nominee<\/i>\n<\/p>\n

Public Service<\/span><\/h4>\n

Donald Milford Payne Sr.<\/strong> (posthumous)<\/i>
New Jersey\u2019s first African American elected to Congress<\/i>\n<\/p>\n

Former Gov.\u00a0Christine Todd Whitman<\/strong>
Writer, former administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and New Jersey\u2019s 50th governor<\/i>\n<\/p>\n

Sports<\/span><\/h4>\n

John McMullen<\/strong> (posthumous)<\/i>
Former owner of the New Jersey Devils and Houston Astros<\/i>\n<\/p>\n

Lawrence Taylor<\/strong>
Former New York Giants linebacker<\/i>\n<\/p>\n

Unsung Hero<\/span><\/h4>\n

Tom Weatherall<\/strong>
President and CEO of Make-A-Wish New Jersey<\/i>\n<\/p>\n

\u201cThe New Jersey Hall of Fame\u2019s Class of 2026 has made a lasting impact in their fields and serves as an inspiration to future generations,\u201d added Gov. Mikie Sherrill. \u201cI congratulate this outstanding class of inductees and thank them for their contributions to New Jersey and beyond.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

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