New Jersey

The Amazing Kreskin (1935–2024), 1970s TV mentalist

The Amazing Kreskin was a mentalist who became a TV star of the 1970s with his many appearances on “The Tonight Show” and other talk shows.

DJ Clark Kent (1966–2024), producer who helped discover Jay-Z

DJ Clark Kent was a music insider and hip-hop producer who played a role in the rise of some of the genre’s biggest stars, including Jay-Z and Notorious B.I.G.

Cissy Houston (1933–2024), gospel singer and Whitney Houston’s mother

Cissy Houston was a legendary gospel and soul singer, as well as the mother of and the aunt of Dionne and .

Otis Davis (1932–2024), two-time gold medal-winning runner

Otis Davis was a track and field athlete who won two Olympic gold medals for the United States in the 1960 Rome games.

Michael Lerner (1943–2024), activist and founder of Tikkun magazine

Rabbi Michael Lerner was a political and social activist, as well as the founder of the progressive faith-based magazine, Tikkun. 

Linda Deutsch (1943–2024), court reporter who covered landmark trials

Linda Deutsch was an Associated Press reporter who made her name covering the landmark trials of legendary figures like , , Sirhan Sirhan, and .

Johnny Gaudreau (1993–2024), All-Star NHL winger

Johnny Gaudreau was an All-Star winger in the NHL who played for nearly a decade with the Calgary Flames and most recently with the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Bill Pascrell Jr. (1937–2024), longtime New Jersey congressman

Bill Pascrell Jr. was a former mayor of Paterson, New Jersey and longstanding New Jersey congressman, serving over 25 years in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Alvin Attles (1936–2024), Golden State Warriors Hall of Famer 

Alvin Attles was a longtime NBA player, coach, executive and basketball Hall of Famer who spent more than 60 years with the Golden State Warriors.

John Aprea (1941–2024), Godfather Part II actor

John Aprea was an actor known for portraying young Salvatore Tessio in “The Godfather Part II” and Uncle Jesse’s father on “Full House,” along with a long tenure on “Another World” and stints on “Falcon Crest” and “Knots Landing.”

Chino XL (1974–2024), rapper and actor

Chino XL , who once beefed with , was a New Jersey-based rapper and actor best known for his debut album, “Here to Save You All.” 

Harry Roland (1954–2024), “The World Trade Center Man”

Harry Roland was a street orator whose rhyming reminders and remembrances of the attacks on 9/11 kept memories alive long after they occurred.

Korey Cunningham (1995–2024), former Giants and Pats offensive lineman

Korey Cunningham was an offensive lineman in the NFL who played 31 career games, most of them with the New York Giants. 

Donald M. Payne Jr. (1958–2024), six-term U.S. Congressman from N.J.

Donald M. Payne Jr., was a second-generation United States congressman from New Jersey who served six terms in office, following in the footsteps of his namesake congressman father.

Faith Ringgold (1930–2024), artist known for quilts 

Faith Ringgold was an artist and author known for her quilts, paintings and children’s books depicting Black American life.

Lynda Gravátt (1947–2024), Broadway star who appeared in Law & Order

Lynda Gravátt was an actress known for her Broadway career as well as for roles in such TV shows as “Law & Order” and “The Hoop Life.” 

José DeLeón (1960–2024), 13-year MLB veteran

José DeLeón was a 13-year veteran of Major League Baseball (MLB) who played with the Pittsburgh Pirates, St. Louis Cardinals, Chicago White Sox, and others.

Rita McKenzie (2024), Ethel Merman’s Broadway star 

Rita McKenzie was an actress, singer, and stage performer best known for her long-running one-woman show, “Ethel Merman’s Broadway,” which she performed for over three decades.

José Delbo (1933–2024), Wonder Woman, Transformers artist

José Delbo was a comic book artist for seven decades, arguably best known for his work on “Wonder Woman,” “The Transformers,” and “Billy the Kid.”

Adele Springsteen (1925–2024), Bruce Springsteen’s mother 

Adele Springsteen was the mother of singer and songwriter Bruce Springsteen; she bought him his first guitar, served as his legal secretary, and was a fan favorite at concerts. 

Melanie (1947–2024), Brand New Key singer

Melanie was a folk singer and songwriter who had major hits in the 1970s with “Brand New Key” and “Lay Down (Candles in the Rain),” and she was one of three women who performed solo acts at Woodstock.

Charles Osgood (1933–2024), longtime CBS News Sunday Morning host 

Charles Osgood was the host of “CBS News Sunday Morning” from 1994 to 2016 and the host of radio’s “The Osgood File” for close to 50 years.

Lynn Yamada Davis (1956–2024), TikTok chef known as Lynja

Lynn Yamada Davis was known for her viral cooking videos on her TikTok channel, Cooking with Lynja.

Maurice Hines (1943–2023), dancer in The Cotton Club 

Maurice Hines was a tap dancer who performed alongside his brother, in the 1984 movie “The Cotton Club.”

George “Funky” Brown (1949–2023), Kool & the Gang drummer  

George “Funky” Brown was the founding and longtime drummer of Kool & the Gang, as well as one of the band’s primary songwriters.

Helen Williams (1935–2023), pioneering model

Helen Williams was one of the first Black models to appear widely in national publications in the U.S.

Michael McGrath (1957–2023), Tony-winning Broadway actor 

Michael McGrath was a Tony Award-winning Broadway actor best known for his roles in “Nice Work If You Can Get It,” “Tootsie,” and “Spamalot.” 

Clarence Avant (1931–2023), “The Black Godfather” of music

Clarence Avant was a music executive and businessman who advised some of the biggest names in music history.0

Sheila Oliver (1952–2023), groundbreaking New Jersey elected official 

Sheila Oliver led a groundbreaking political career as a Garden State legislator, including being the first Black woman to serve as speaker for the General Assembly and the first Black woman elected as New Jersey’s lieutenant governor.0

Lelia Goldoni (1936–2023), star of Shadows 

Lelia Goldoni was an actress who starred in classic indie film “Shadows.”

Evelyn M. Witkin (1921–2023), discovered how DNA repairs itself 

Evelyn M. Witkin was an award-winning geneticist whose discoveries about how DNA repairs itself opened the door to advances in cancer treatment.

Darren Drozdov (1969–2023), former WWE wrestler

Darren Drozdov was a former NFL football player and WWE wrestler. A 1999 accident in the ring fractured two neck vertebrae, leaving him quadriplegic. 

Stew Leonard Sr. (1929–2023), grocery store founder 

Stew Leonard Sr. was the founder of the Stew Leonard’s chain of grocery stores. 

Morris Tanenbaum (1928–2023), inventions led to medical imaging tech

Morris Tanenbaum was an innovative thinker in the world of science and technology, helping the legendary Bell Labs make several technological leaps forward in the 1950s and 1960s. They include spearheading the creation of the first silicon transistor and gas-infused silicon transistor, and helping lead the team that invented the first high-field superconducting magnets. That advancement eventually led to the invention of today’s cutting edge medical imaging devices.

Bob McGrath (1932–2022), longtime “Sesame Street” cast member

Bob McGrath was one of the original human cast members of “Sesame Street” and appeared on the children’s TV classic for more than 45 years.

Gerald Stern (1925–2022), award-winning poet

Gerald Stern was a poet who won a National Book Award in 1998 for his collection “This Time: New and Selected Poems.”

Taurean Blacque (1940–2022), "Hill Street Blues" costar

Taurean Blacque was an actor best known for his role as Detective Neal Washington on the acclaimed 1980s police drama "Hill Street Blues."

Jon Zazula (1952–2022), record exec who helped launch Metallica

Jon Zazula was the founder of Megaforce Records, Metallica’s first label.

Hurricane Ida Victims (2021)

At least 34 people have died as a result of Hurricane Ida.

Joe Long (1932–2021), bassist for the Four Seasons

Joe Long was a bassist for the Four Seasons, who played on their later hits including “Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You.”

Johnny Pacheco (1935–2021), musician who helped popularize salsa music

Johnny Pacheco was a musician who co-founded Fania Records, where he helped create salsa music and bring it into the mainstream.

Joe Clark (1938–2020), principal who inspired “Lean on Me”

Joe Clark was the former principal of Eastside High School in Paterson, New Jersey, who inspired the 1989 film “Lean on Me.”

Tom Heinsohn (1934–2020), Boston Celtics legend

Boston Celtics legend Tom Heinsohn won 10 championships with the franchise as a player and head coach.

Carol Arthur (1935–2020), 'Blazing Saddles' actor

Carol Arthur starred in "Blazing Saddles" and was the widow of .

Erick Morillo (1971–2020), “I Like to Move It” DJ

Erick Morillo was a DJ and producer known for the dance music hit “I Like to Move It.”     

Salome Bey (1933–2020), Canada's first lady of the blues

Salome Bey was Canada's first lady of the blues, a popular performer in Toronto who was made an honorary member of the Order of Canada.

Ruth Mandel (1938–2020), leading advocate for women in politics

Ruth Mandel was a leading advocate for women in politics and Holocaust survivor who was the former Vice Chair of the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Council.

Holocaust Survivors Tell Their Stories

This International Holocaust Memorial Day, January 27, 2020, marks 75 years since those held prisoner in the Auschwitz concentration camp were liberated. The , who emerged from a nightmare and managed to put together the pieces of a new life, have grown to old age in the 21st century. Those with the most vivid memories, who were adults during World War II, are mostly gone, and those few who are left are in the last years of their lives. Many, as they leave this life, take one last chance to tell their stories — via their obituaries.

Edward Dee (1924–2019), founder of Smarties Candy Company

Edward Dee was the founder of Smarties Candy Company and the inventor of the sweet candy discs, packaged in rolls and especially popular on Halloween.