Famous and Recognized Great Neckers: January 9, 2008
Great Neck, Long Island, New York
Lists and names found on the internet, books, notes from classmates, and
other papers. One can “google search” most names for
further information. Please send me any additions or corrections to
Edgar at EdgarvSP@aol.com
(class of 1953)
Key : (1953) is year person graduated High School
Thanks for all your input and changes.
* = ADDED ON - SINCE MAJOR LAST DISTRIBUTION ----------- (February 2007))
| Joey Adams | Comedian, from Vaudeville to the Catskills, and TV | |
| Bette (Orovan) Adelman | Judge / An early major contributor to the Feminist Movement (1953) | |
| Stephen Albert | Composer and Pulitzer Prize Winner | |
| Madeleine Albright | First Woman Secretary of State 1996 .Daughter of a UN Diplomat | |
| Frances Alda | International Opera Star at the turn of the Century | |
| * Millette Alexander | Concert Pianist, and TV Actress, “Guiding Light” and “Edge of Night” 60-80’s | |
| Moses Annenberg | Publisher of the Philadelphia Inquirer –Annenberg Foundation | |
| Alfred Appel, Jr. | Educator, Professor, and Author including “Art of Celebration” | |
| Nancy Astor-White | Owner of the World Renowned Arabian Horse Farm,GlenBrook Arabians(1953) | |
| Sol Atlas | Real Estate Developer – Manhasset’s “Miracle Mile” | |
| Jon Avnet | Film Producer/Director 1960-2000’s Class of 1967 | |
| David Baltimore | Biologist and Nobel Prize winner (Science) 1975, Pres. Of Caltech | |
| William S. Barstow | Inventor of Electrical Devises and an associate of Thomas Edison | |
| Richard Barthelmess | Silent film star 1920-30’s | |
| Jim Barton | Voice over commercials 1990-2006 | |
| Sandy Becker | TV personality ..Kid shows 1950-60’s | |
| Henri Bendel | Foremost clothing designer of his time | |
| Bob Benjamin | Head of United Artists 1950-60’s | |
| Richard Benjamin | (Kensington) Movie Actor, was married to Paula Prentiss | |
| The Blackburn Twins | Dancers in 1950 musicals- Had a dance studio in Great Neck also | |
| Nikki Blonsky | A new Actress appearing in the movie “Hairspray” in 2007 | |
| Amy Bloom | Psychotherapist and Author “Love Invents Us” set in Great Neck | |
| Hiram Bloomingdale | Department store family | |
| Oscar Brand | Folk Song writer had long running PBS radio show 50’s | |
| Dave Breger | Caroonist, “G.I. Joe” series. (Great Neck Estates) 1940’s | |
| Donald Brian | Broadway Actor, Singer and Dancer, 1907 “King of Broadway”, 20 Musicals | |
| Fanny Brice | “Baby Snooks” of the 1940-50’s on the radio | |
| William Gould Brokaw | Mens clothing manufacturer early 1900’s (Brokaw Avenue) | |
| * Roxane Brooks | Actress: The Phil Silvers Sow, Sgt. Bilko, (80 TV Shows in all) Class of 1948 | |
| Heywood Broun | Newspaper columnist and politician NYC papers 1920-30’s | |
| Margaret Wise Brown | Author of over 100 children’s books in the 1930’s and 1940’s | |
| Nadine Ullman Brozan | Journalist for the New York Times Class of 1954 | |
| Gene Buck | President of ASCAP in the 30’s to 50’s | |
| Ralph Bunche | UN Diplomat but could not buy a house in Great Neck in the 1950’s | |
| Sid Caesar | TV Comedian in the 1940-1950’s, “Your Show of Shows” | |
| Peter Camejo | Ran for Governor of California as the Green Party Candidate 2003 | |
| Eddie Cantor | Comedian of the 1930-60’s | |
| Jay Cantor | Educator and Author including the book “Great Neck” in 2004 | |
| *Don Carney | Radio’s kid show “Uncle Don” in the 1920 – 1950’s. Beverly Road, Kensington | |
| Charlie Chaplin | Silent Film Comedian | |
| Ray Charles | TV and Movie entertainer .Lived in the Village of Thomaston . | |
| Maurice Chevalier | Song and dance star in the movies of 1930-1960’s, Broadway in the 20’s | |
| Shirley Chisholm | Politician of the 60’s. Tried to become the Democrat Presidential Nominee | |
| Walter Percy Chrysler | Chrysler Automobile Corporation founder – had owned USMM Academy land | |
| Richard Church | Executive of Church and Dwight – cosmetic/home products (Kings Point) | |
| Buddy Clark | Ballard singer of the 40-50’s, lived on Nassau Drive. Died in airplane crash | |
| Dr. Mary L. Cleave | Astronaut with 2 shuttle flights and 262 hours in space (1965) | |
| George M. Cohan | Broadway musical writer, composer, lyricist, producer of Broadway Hits | |
| Steven A. Cohen | Multi-Billionaire Hedge Fund Manager (founded SAC Capital),art collector too. | |
| Wilfred P. Cohen | Very Successful clothing line (Arthur Allen Clothes) Manufacturer | |
| Kenneth Cole | Founded Kenneth Cole footwear, accessories and clothing | |
| Francis Ford Coppola | Movie Director of the “Godfather” trilogy and “Apocalypse Now” | |
| Talia (Coppola) Shire | Actress (wife of Rocky in movies) and in the “Godfather” Movies (1962) | |
| Andrew W. Cordier | United Nations Official and President of Columbia University | |
| Irwin Corey | TV comedian of the 1970-80’s “Professor Corey” | |
| Jerome Cowan | Character Actor / Movies and TV (attorney in “Miracle on 34th St”) | |
| Jane Cowl | Silent film star 1910-20’s and then in “talkies” till 1940’s | |
| Frank Craven | Actor/Playwright in the 1930-1940’s | |
| Thomas Craven | Author and Editor of Art Books and Magazines (1930 – 1955) | |
| Joan Crawford | Movie star of the 30’s, 40’s and 50’s | |
| * Anthony Cumia | Radio shock jock…the other half of “Opie and Anthony” | |
| Frederic Dannay | Co-Author of the “Ellery Queen” stories and Mystery Magazines (Old Mill Rd) | |
| * Bob Davis | Class of 1950 –Pitched for Yale and in the Major Leagues for 2 yrs Died in 2001 | |
| Janette Davis | Featured Singer on the “Arthur Godfrey Show” | |
| Andrea (Oppenheimer) Dean | Editor of Architecture Magazine and author of “Rural Studio” | |
| * Raymond J. Dempsey | Pres.of Fidelcor then to Chairman of the European Amer. Bancorp in the 1980’s | |
| * Sam Denoff | Writer, Steve Allen Show and Andy Williams Show. Class of 1947 | |
| Connie Desmond | Worked with Red Barber play calling Brooklyn Dodgers games 1940-50’s | |
| * Thomas P. DiNapoli | 54th Comptroller for the State of New York | |
| Wendy Doniger | Teacher, Author, and World renowned “Sanskrit” scholar | |
| * Shay Doron | Played professional basketball for the New York Liberty in the 2007 draft | |
| Ervin Drake | Song Writer, Composer, and Lyricist, “I Believe”, “It was a Very Good Year” | |
| Will Durant | Philosopher and Author in the 1910’s – 1970’s | |
| Quinn Early | Football Player 12 yrs – New Orleans Saints, Buffalo Bills and NY Jets | |
| Florence Eldridge | Actress and married to Frederick March 1930’s – 40’s | |
| * Louisa Udall Skidmore Eldridge | Founder or Co-founder of the Great Neck Library, Park System, and Arts Center | |
| Roswell Eldridge | Owner of Saddle Rock and Operated the Major Ferry Services in NYC | |
| Percy Faith | Orchestra conductor and leader in the 40’s – 70’s | |
| Else Ferguson | Stage Actress and Silent Film Star of the 1910’s -1930’s | |
| Andy Ferretti | Tommy Dorsey band, played trumpet on Radio and TV | |
| Lew Fields | Comedian, Vaudeville Stage Actor of the 1920’s and 1930’s | |
| W.C. Fields | Early movie comedian 1920-1930’s (Kings Point) | |
| Tully Filmus | Artist of the 1920-1950’shis art found in many museums | |
| * Marcelle S. Fischler | Journalist for the NY Times and author of “The Ultimate Book of Great Neck” | |
| F. Scott Fitzgerald | Writer 1930’s “The Great Gatsby” about Great.Neck (GN Estates) | |
| Folger family | Folger Coffee..still a well known coffee maker (Kings Point) | |
| Whitey Ford | Yankee Pitcher of the famous 1950’s Yankees | |
| * Dr. Charles E. Friedgood | Convicted of overdosing his wife in 1977. Oldest NY inmate at age 89 (2007) | |
| Robert Friedman | Fortune Magazine – International Editor | |
| Vitas Geruilitas | Tennis Player of world fame | |
| John Gibson | Radio and TV Actor “Casey Crime Photographer” bartender | |
| Alan L. Gleitsman | Owned/Distributed movies. Gave many Scholarships to GNHS Students | |
| Paulette Goddard | Movie actress of the 1940’s, and married Charlie Chaplin (3rd wife) | |
| Rube Goldberg | Cartoonist of the 50’s,60’s,and 70’s | |
| * Lawrence J. Goldrich | Builder/Developer in Virginia Beach and Philanthropist (U.N.C. Graduate) | |
| Judith S. Goldstein | Author; “Inventing Great Neck” 2006 | |
| Jamie S. Gorelick | Lawyer under Janet Reno and one of the ten on the 9/11 Commission (1968) | |
| * William P. Gottlieb | Jazz Photographer. His photographs of the artists in the Golden Age are great. | |
| Morton Gould | Music conductor 1940-1950’s | |
| W.R.Grace | Shipping Mogul and Mayor of New York City | |
| Ben Grauer | NBC announcer (Times Square New Years Eve Celebrations) | |
| Mark J. Green | Lawyer and Politician. ran for NY Senate but lost to Charles Schumer (1963) | |
| Bobby Haggard | Song Writer, Bass Player including “How Long Has this Been Going On” | |
| Robert D. Hales | One of 12 Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (1950) | |
| Leonid Hambro | Classical Pianist 1960’s | |
| Marvin Hamlisch | Composer, “The Way We Were” and soundtrack for “The Sting” | |
| Oscar Hammerstein II | Writer of the best musicals in the 1950’s | |
| Leigh (Judith Schonberger)Harris | Theater Director and Teacher in Off-Broadway, Theater-in-the-Round, NYC | |
| Sam Harris | Theatrical Producer of the 20’s friend of F. Scott Fitzgerald | |
| * Joy Harmon | Actress: Best known scene in “Cool Hand Luke”as the car washer.TV work also | |
| Paul and Grace Hartman | Dancers and actors on Broadway and films 1940’s | |
| Jack Hausman | Philanthropist, successful Textile Manufacturer | |
| Michael Hausman | Movie Producer of many award winning films including “Armedeus” (1953) | |
| August Heckscher | Mining Industrialist and Real Estate Magnate 20’s - 40’s | |
| William Helmreich | Author, “Against All Odds” | |
| Joseph Hirshhorn | Financier, Mining and Oil business, and Art Collector | |
| Harriet (Weil) Hodgson | Author of several books including “Smiling Through Your Tears” | |
| Francis X. Hope | Broadway Producer/Manager in the 1920’s and 1930’s | |
| Leslie Howard | Movie actor 1950’s | |
| Willie Howard | Stage performer, comedian in 1930-40’s | |
| Emily Hughes | US Olympic Figure Skating Team (2006) (younger sister of Sarah Hughes) | |
| Sarah Hughes | Olympic Gold Medal in Skating 2002 | |
| Parks Johnson | VOX POP radio personality 1950’s | |
| Nathan S. Jonas | NYC Banker (1930’s) and Philanthropist | |
| * David Kahn | Author and recognized historian of intelligence (codebreaking) Class of ‘47 | |
| Max Kalish | Sculptor of the 1930’s and 1940’s’s | |
| Andy Kaufman | TV Comedian 1960-80’s Saturday Night Live (1967) | |
| Rhoda (Levy) Kafer | Author of Recipes and the book, “Rhoda’s Kitchen” (1953) | |
| Linzee Klingman | Renowned Film Editor, “The Lake House” her latest | |
| Alan King | TV Comedian 1960-1990’s | |
| Charles King | Movie actor 1940 -50’s | |
| Dennis King | Stage and TV Actor 1950-60’s (married model Louise Cordier GNHS 1950) | |
| Gene Klavan | Radio DJ 1980-90’s. “Klavan and Finch” Radio Program | |
| Rudy Kopf | Founder of the Kobrand Corp. The major Quality Wines and Spirits Firm | |
| * Josh Kopelman | Sold his “Half.com” to EBay for $350 Million (used books) Kopleman Found. | |
| Arthur B. Krim | Past Chairman of Orion Pictures and United Artists, 1,000 movies | |
| Matilda Krim | Famous AIDS researcher | |
| Charles G. Kurland | World renowned Molecular Biologist who teaches and lectures Class of 1953 | |
| * Christopher Lambert | Film Actor- played Tarzan in 1984 film “Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes” | |
| Hal Lanigan | Original Editor and chief writer of the “Great Neck News” | |
| Ring Lardner | Writer of Short Stories 1910-30’s and sports columnist | |
| Rex Lardner | Humorist wrote about golf and tennis | |
| Ira Levin | Author, “Rosemary’s Baby” and “The Boys From Brazil” | |
| David Levitt | President “Doughnut Corp. of America” 1940’s- fought to get GN hospital | |
| William J.and Alfred Levitt | Home Builders (17,000 prefabricated homes in Levittown, L.I.) | |
| Daniel Lipsky | Financier and Eddie Cantor’s financial advisor | |
| Jessie Livermore | 1930’s Wealthy Financial Wizard (Kings Point) | |
| Russ Lyon | Became the largest Residential and Commercial Realtor in Phoenix AZ | |
| Elaine Malbin | Soprano 1950’s sang in Mario Lanza Films | |
| Frederick March | Stage and Movie Actor of the 1930’s -1970’s | |
| Groucho Marx | Movie, TV, and Stage Comedian 1920’s –1970’s, 21 Lincoln Road, 1926-1931 | |
| Charles McCausland | Lieut General in the United States Air Force. Teacher at Syracuse Univ (1953) | |
| Jeanette McDonald | Stage and Movie actress/ singer 1940’s – 1950’s | |
| Nancy Meckler | Play Director including The Royal Shakespeare Company | |
| * Oliver Mendell | Philanthropist, investor on the Board of Directors for U.S.O. Class of 1943 | |
| Tom Meighan | Successful Silent Film star | |
| Herman Melville | Author of “Moby Dick” | |
| Barbara Stoler Miller | World renowned “Sanskrit” scholar | |
| Dr. John L. Miller | School Superintendent 1942 – 1970 during the difficult beginning years | |
| Marilyn Miller | Movie actress of the 1920’s and 1930’s | |
| * Dr. Louise Mirrer | Educator, Publisher and Administrator City University of New York (1969) | |
| * Rick Mittleman | TV Writer and Producer-“I Spy”, “Mary Tyler Moore”, “M.A.S.H.” plus more | |
| Grace Moore | Operatic Soprano of the 1920- 1940’s. Many Broadway musicals -68 Arleigh Rd | |
| David J. Nash | TV Producer including National Political Conventions Class of 1953 | |
| Peter Nero | Pianist and POP’s Conductor in the 50’s - present | |
| Louise Nevelson | Artist 1960-70’s, Abstract Sculptorist | |
| Paul Newman | Screen Actor, 1950’s – present . Lived on Station Road for awhile | |
| * Arthur Norcross | Founder of Norcross Greeting Cards (use to be at 244 Madison Ave) | |
| Bobby North | Stage Performer/Producer 1910’s | |
| Olsen and Johnson | Radio “Hellzapoppin” show of the 1930’s, both lived on Allenwood Road | |
| Eugene O’Neill | Playwright – 50 plays 1920 – 1940’s | |
| * Bruce Paltrow | TV/Film Producer/Director (St Elsewhere)1970-80’s. Daughter is Gwyneth | |
| Lottie Parker | Author of “Way Down East | |
| Floyd Paterson | Heavyweight Boxer. Beat Archie Moore for World Championship 1956 | |
| * Ernst Pawel | Novelist and biographer. “Nightmare of Reason” award winner died in 1994 | |
| Olga Petrova | Silent Screen Actress, Screenwriter and Playwright | |
| Julia Phillips | Producer, won an Academy Award for co-production of “ The Sting” | |
| Henry Phipps | Partner of Andrew Carnegie – estate was G.N. School Admin. Building | |
| Bernard Pomerance | Playwright, “The Elephant Man” and Pulitzer Prize Winner | |
| * Larry Poons | American Abstract Painter…1960 till now (2007) Known in all art museums. | |
| Ester Ralston | Movie Star of the 1920’s -1930’s married to Ted Llyod ,TV producer | |
| Dan Raviv | Reporter/Author – CBS News, anchored 9/11 coverage | |
| Martha Raye | TV comedian 1948-50’s | |
| Basil Rathbone | Played Sherlock Holmes in the movies | |
| Les Read | “Mister HBO” Helped sell, on TV over 5,000,000 subscript /HBO/Cinemax1953 | |
| Meshulam Ricklis | CEO of Rapid America / McCrory Corporation | |
| Larry Rivers | Artist 1940 – 1950’s | |
| Emil Ronzoni | “Ronzoni Pasta” a favorite in all grocery stores in the USA | |
| Leonard Rose | Cello player, NBC Orchestra, taught at Julliard School of Music | |
| Dale Rosengarten | Educator and Author on religious subjects | |
| Rabbi Jack Rudin | Author, and Rabbi of Temple Beth-El from 1930 to 1971 (Reform) | |
| Lillian Russell | Movie actress of the 1950’s and 1960’s | |
| Gene Sarazen | Championship Golfer 1920 – 30’s | |
| Nicholas Schenck | Ran Lowe’s and MGM in the 1920,30,40’s | |
| Deborah Shindler | Movie Producer, “Made in Manhattan” with Jennifer Lopez | |
| Arthur Shorin | CEO of Topps Bubble Gum (Kings Point) | |
| George Segal | Movie Actor 1950-90’s | |
| Edgar Selwyn | Actor, Director and Playwright in the 1920’s and 1930’s | |
| Ingram Burt Shavitz | Founder of “Burt’s Bees” Products Class of 1953 | |
| Oscar Shaw | Stage and Film Actor of the 1920’s and 1930’s | |
| Roberta Sherwood | Singer of the 1940-60’s on TV and Copa Cabanna | |
| Oscar Schisgall | Writer and Corporate Historian wrote 4,000 short stories and articles | |
| Fred Silver | Pianist, Author, Educator and Playwright Class of 1953 | |
| Bob Simon | “60 Minutes” the Television Journalist | |
| Harry F. Sinclair | Sinclair Oil founder, Thoroughbred race horses, Teapot Dome scandal | |
| Alfred P. Sloan | Chairman of the Board of GM autos - 1950’s /Philanthropist | |
| Art Smith | Pitcher for the Chicago White Sox (1932) and GNHS Athletic Director | |
| * Mel Southard | New York State Boxing Commissioner 1998-2001 Class of 1962 | |
| St. Nick | Birth place (according to the movie “Miracle on 34th Street” made in 1947) | |
| * Ellsworth Milton Statler | Statler Hotel chain magnate in the early 1900’s. Bought out by Hilton in 1954 | |
| Ellen J. Stekert | Performer and Historian of Folklore Music also an Educator at U Minn.(1953) | |
| Dawn Steel | Producer “Flashdance” and head of Paramount in 1985 and Columbia (1964) | |
| Alan N. Stillman | Founder of the nation wide “T.G.I.F. Restaurants” Class of 1953 | |
| * Seth Swirsky | Song writer, author and baseball paraphernalia collector | |
| Herbert Bayard Swope, Jr. | Newspaper editor NY World and a Television producer 50’s-60’s | |
| Norma Talmadge | Silent film star 1910 – 20’s | |
| John Thompson | Inventor of the Thompson Machine Gun (WW II) | |
| Ernest Truex | Movie, stage and TV actor 1920 – 50’s | |
| Richard Tucker | 1950’s great Operatic tenor | |
| Peter Udell | Musician, Tony Award winner in the 60’s | |
| Louis Uchitelle | Economic writer for the New York Times Class of 1950 | |
| Jean-Claude Van Itallie | Playwright, performer, play director and teacher | |
| * Sim Van der Ryn | Architect who was a researcher and educator in environmental design | |
| William K. Vanderbilt, Jr. | Railroad Magnate, home was Lake Success C. Club | |
| * Ivan B. Veit | NY TIMES v.p. Business Manager and Dir. Development and Planning | |
| Harry von Zell | Radio announcer for Eddie Cantor Show 1930-40’s | |
| Ewing Walker | Author and Book Publisher Class of 1953 | |
| Mimi (Wellner) Walsh | Artist – in the fine art of “Enameling” (fusing special glass to metal using heat) | |
| Barbara Walters | TV Journalist and lived in Great Neck for a time around 1963 as Mrs Lee Guber | |
| Sam Warner | Co-founder and President of Warner Bros. Films with his brothers | |
| Rabbi Mordecai Waxman | Rabbi of Temple Israel (Conservative) 1947 -1995 | |
| Clifton Webb | Stage and award winning Motion Picture actor of the 50 and 60’s | |
| Max Weber | Artist 1920-50’s | |
| Ted Weems | Orchestra leader 1920-1950’s. Helped Perry Como get started | |
| Mort Weisinger | Editor of the SUPERMAN, and BATMAN family of Comic Books | |
| Edmund Wilson | Writer and Editor of Vanity Fair and friend of F. Scott Fitzgerald | |
| Paul Wittgenstein | One-Armed Pianist of the 30’s and 40’s from Austria – lost arm in WW I | |
| P.G. Wodehouse | Author and song writer 1920-1950’s, English Comic writer | |
| John Allen Wolfe | Radio Newscaster 1940’s - 1960’s (Locust St.- Kensington) | |
| Herman Wouk | Author “The Cain Mutiny” and “Winds of War” | |
| Ed Wynn | Movie actor 1920-50’s (Comedian) | |
| Keenan Wynn | Movie star in the 1960 -90’s (son of Ed Wynn) | |
| Chic Young | Creator of “Blonde” comic strip | |
| Ellen (Parks) Young | Author of 2 books on Alzheimer’s Disease “Between Two Worlds” (Class1955) | |
| Neil Zaslow | Musicologist and Cornell Professor | |
| Richard Zeckhauser | Financial Writer, and Educator at Kennedy School of Business | |
| Florenz (Flo) Ziegfeld | Broadway Impresario – The Ziegfeld Follies of the early 1900’s | |
| Marvin Zim | Writer and Reporter for TIME Magazine. Class of 1953 | |
| William H. Zinsser | Business man and Founder of the Great Neck Association in the 20’s |
Many of the names on the above list where mentioned in the two books and other locations listed below: