Noteworthy Alumni

The complete list of Noteworthy Alumni is available at the Jamaica High School web page.

The following list is taken from the Jamaica High School Noteworthy Alumni page.  If you have additional suggestions feel free to contact Ellen Frank, librarian and webmaster of Jamaica High School.

• Lusitania Survivor, Clinton "Will" Percival Bernard, '05. (1888 - 1967)
  His account of the 1915 sinking by a German sub that killed 1178 persons.
• Director and Cinematographer, Josef von Sternberg, '14. (1894 - 1969). Brief biography and picture.
• Author, Laura Z. Hobson, '17. (1900 - 1986) Brief biography and picture.
• Owner of the Brooklyn and L.A. Dodgers, Walter O'Malley, '22? (1903-1979) Brief biography and picture.
• Track Coach and Teacher, Milton Blatt, '28. (1910-1997) Brief biography.
• Author and Composer, Paul Bowles, '28. (1910-1999).Brief bio and Picture. Site: 1, 2.
  
• Bingo Promoter and Toy Manufacturer, Edwin S. Lowe, '29? (1911-1986) Brief Biography.
• President of Queens College and Queensboro Community College, Joseph P. McMurray, '30?. (1912-2001) Bio and Picture.
• Artist, Painted JHS's Mural, Suzanne Miller '31. (1882 - 1980) Brief biography and pictures.,
• Attorney General of the United States, John N. Mitchell, '31. (1913 - 1988) Brief biography and pictures.,
• Lawyer, Argued First Amendment Case in U.S. Supreme Court, Bertram B. Daiker, '33? (1915-2005)Bio.
  
• Art Dealer, Founder of Hirschl and Adler Galleries, Norman S. Hirschl, '33? (1915-2001)Bio.
• Psychologist, Social Activist, Margaret Brenman Gibson, '34Bio. and picture.
• Philanthropist, Theresa Lang, '34? Bio.
• Lawyer and Jamaica Community Leader, Hon. Lawrence R. Bailey, Sr. '35. (1918-1998) Brief biography.
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• Author, Professor, Minister, Priest, Rev. George N. Thompson, '35. (1917-2001) Brief biography.
• Developer and Arts Philanthropist, Gilbert Tilles, '35?. (1917-1990) Brief bio and picture.
  
• Banker, Won Distinguished Flying Cross for 51 Missions, Donald LaPasta, '36. Brief biography.
• Jockey, Rode Assault to Triple Crown in 1946, Warren Mehrtens, '38. Bio and Picture.
• Judge, Human Rights Commissioner, William H. Booth, '40. (8/12/22 - 12/12/06) Bio and Picture.
•  Pulitzer Prize Winning Poet, Alan Dugan, '41. (2/12/1923 - 9/3/2003) Picture and bio. Obit.
• Nobel Prize Winner, 1988 Physiology/Medicine, Gertrude Belle Elion, '41. (Fac.)(1918 - 1999). Bio and Picture.
  
• WWII Flyer Decorated by U.S and Russia, Thomas Ford, '42? (1924 - 1996)Brief biography.
• LIC Gospel Church Bishop, Moses Taylor, '42? (1924 - 2004)Bio and picture.
• Pulitzer Prize Winning Composer, Author and Conductor,Gunther Schuller, '43. Brief biography and picture.
•   Pulitzer Prize Winning Humorist and cartoonist, Art Buchwald, '43. Brief biography and picture.
• Principal of Jamaica High School, 1919-1946, Charles Vosburgh, '46. (Fac.) Brief biography and picture.
  
• "Bayonne Bomber," Boxer, Charles E. Norkus, '47? (1929-1996) Brief biography and picture.
• Movie and TV Actress and Singer, Nita Talbot, '47. (Anita G. Sokol). Brief biography and picture.
• Newsday Columnist and Talk Show Host, Mike Lewis, '48. (Irwin Levine)Brief biography.
• Human Rights Watch Founder, Jeri Laber, '49.  Brief biography.
• Crime Reporter, Jack Peritz, '49. (1931-1997) Brief biography.
• Long Island Promoter, "Mr. Long Island," Frank L. Tracy, '51.Brief biography.
  
• "King of Torts," Mel Weiss, '53. Brief bio and picture.
• Doo Wop Pioneers: The Cleftones: Charlie James(McGhee),'55; William McClane, '55; Herb Cox, '55; Berman Patterson, '55; and Warren Corbin, '55 (dec.). Sites: Notes from C.J.,Notes from B.P., 2, 3,
  
•   Women's Issues Writer, Letty Cottin Pogrebin, '55. Sites: Pic. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.
• St. John's University Basketball Star, Alan Seiden, '55. Time Capsule and Pic.
• Supreme Court Justice, Queens County, Hon. Phyllis Orlikoff Flug, '56. Brief biography.
• Candidate for New York Mayor and Governor, Herb London, '56. Brief bio and picture.
• Author, Lois Silverstein, '56. Notes from L.S., Sites: 1, 2. Pic.
• Sports Writer, George Vecsey, '56. Site: Pic.
•   Chief Executive Officer, eAnytimeKiosks, Laurence Cohn, '57. Site: 1,
• Screen Writer and Director, Francis Ford Coppola, '57. Brief bio and picture. Site: 1,
• Director, USMMA Band, "George M. Cohan's Own," Kenneth Force, '57. Site: 1, Pic.
• "Miss Subways, 1959 Ellen Hart, '57?. Brief bio and picture.
• Puzzle Maker, Marilynn Huret, '57. Brief bio and pictures.
  
• Science Writer, Stephen Jay Gould, '58. Sites: Pic, 1, 2, 3, New York Times Obituary.
• OBIE Winning Actor, Lola Pashalinski, '58. (Regina Hirsch). Sites: Pic, 1,
• Author, Peter Lefcourt, '58. Picture and biographical note.
• Senior Flight Surgeon, Medical Officer, US Coast Guard, Martin Nemiroff, '58. Pictures and biographical note.
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• Radio Talk Show Host: "The Savage Nation," Michael Savage, '58. (Michael Weiner) Sites: 1, 2, Pic.
• Screen Writer and Producer, Jay Wolpert, '58. Picture and biographical note.
• Lawyer, Author, Teacher, Robert A. Zadek, '58. Brief bio and picture.
  
• Neuropathologist, Mt. Sinai Medical Center, Daniel Perl, '59. Brief bio and picture.
• Johns Hopkins University Dean, Alfred Sommer, '59. Brief bio and picture.
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• Head of Neuropathology, Yale University School of Medicine, Laura Kirchman Manuelidis, '59. Brief bio and picture.
• Barnard College President, Judith Shapiro, '59. Sites: Pic, 1,
• Dancer, Actor, Choreographer, Lester Wilson, '59, (1942-93). Brief bio and picture.
• Provost, Columbia University, Jonathan R. Cole, '60?. Brief bio and picture.
  
• New York City Councilman, Sheldon Leffler, '60?. Brief bio and picture.
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• Del Vikings' (Doo Wop Group) Vocalist/Bassman, Les Levine, '60. Still performing! Pic. 1, Pic. 2, Pic 3, Site 1,
• Cryptographer, Bailey Whitfield Diffie, '61. Sites: Pic., 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10.
• Suffolk County Court Judge, Mark D. Zuckerman, '61. (1943-2001) Brief bio and picture.
• Pop Singer, Marcie Blane (Marcia Blanc), '62. Bio and Pictures.
  
• Connecticut Attorney General, Richard Blumenthal, '62. Picture and biography.
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• Toys "R" Us Chairman, Michael Goldstein, '62. Sites: 1,
• Affordable Housing Developer, Raleigh W. Hall, '62. Brief biography.
• Oregon State University President, Edward John Ray, '62. Brief bio and picture.
• University of Michigan Ultra-sound developer, Terry Silver, '62. Picture and biography.
  
• Attorney to the Infamous, Dominic Barbara, '63. Site: 1
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• Television and Screenwriter, Michael Barrie, '63.Brief bio and picture.
• Judge, 11th Circuit Court of Appeals, Atlanta, Stanley Marcus, '63. Brief bio and picture.
• New York Times prize winning columnist, Joyce Purnick, '63. Picture and biography.
• Massachusetts State Representative, Ruth Balser, '65. Bio and picture.
  
• Deputy Chancellor, NYC Dept of Education, Marcia V. Lyles, '65. Brief bio and picture.
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• Pres., Urban Systems Associates, Steven M. Rittvo, '65. Site: 1
• Olympic Champion Long Jumper, Bob Beamon, '66. Pics.:1, Sites: 1
• President, Local 1180, Vice-Chair, Municipal Labor Committee, Arthur Cheliotes, '66. Bio and picture.
• Playwrite, Comedian, Cary Hoffman, '66. Site: Bio and pic.
• United States Congresswoman for Texas, Sheila Jackson Lee, '66. Site: 1, 2.
  
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• Lawyer for Soc Sec claims, President of NOSSCR, Richard P. Morris, '66. Announcement.
• NY State Senator, '78-'92, Judge Jeremy Weinstein, '67. Site: 1
• JHS, Princeton and 1984 Olympic Track Coach, Larry Ellis, Fac. 1958-1968. (1929-1998). Sites: 1, 2, 3
• New York City Councilman, Hyram Monserrate, '67?. Site: Bio and picture.
• Film director, Julie Dash, '68. Picture and brief biography.
  
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• Author, Marketing Executive, Joe Allen, '69. Picture and brief biography.
• Film Actor, Director, Producer, Obba Babatunde, '69. (Donald Cohen) Picture and brief biography.
• Computer Graphics Inventor and Designer, David M. Geschwind, '69. Picture and brief biography.
• Doctor and Medical Researcher, Jeffrey Laurence, '69. Picture and brief biography.
• Physicist, University of California, Roger Falcone, '70. Studies femtosecond events. Picture and brief biography.
  
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• Artist, Track Worker, Marvin Franklin, '70. Wins awards, killed by a train. Pictures and brief biography.
  
• Author, Science and Health Writer, Robin Marantz Henig, '70. Picture and brief biography.
• Journalist and Travel Writer, Toni L. Kamins, '70. Author of the "Complete Jewish Guides..."
• Newsday Columnist and Producer, Laurie Rubin Squire, '70. Prizewinning Producer of the Metropolitan Opera Broadcasts Bio and picture.
• NYPD Detective Keith L. Williams, '72. Gave his life in the line of duty.
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• Bankruptcy Judge, District of Maryland. Robert A. Gordon, '74.Brief bio.
• Senior VP, Goodwill Industries, Karen Means, '74?. Brief bio and picture.
  
• MTA Chief Executive Officer, Elliot Sander, '74?. Bio and picture.
• New York City Councilman, David Weprin, '74?. Bio and picture.
• District 27 Councilman, Leroy Comrie, '76. Picture and biography.
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• Computer Writer and Translator, Kirk McElhearn, '76. Picture and biography.
• World's Fastest Talking Female, Fran Capo, '77. Picture and bio.
• News Commentator, Comedienne, Actress, Nancy Giles, '77. Picture and bio.
  
• NYS Assemblyman, Mark S. Weprin, '79. Site: Bio and picture.
• "Best Gospel Jazz Artist," Tony Smith, '80?. Brief bio and picture.
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• Board of Ed. Chancellor and JHS Principal, Frank Macchiarola, '82. News article and picture.
• Photographer, Paul Anthony (Melhado), '82. Biographical notes and picture,
• Rap-Rock Musician,"Mighty" Matt Saladino, '8n. Site: 1,
  
• Olympic Sprinter, Ato Boldon, '91. Site: 1, 2, 3
• Hip Hop Artist, Rich Nice (Richard Jackson), '93. Pix and bio.
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• Author, College Professor, Ferentz Lafargue, '94. Pix and bio.
• Author, Translator of The Ramayan, Ruchir Gupta, '97. JHS Site. Read announcement. Read about the book.
• JHS Secretary for 58 years, Doris Reid, 2003. (1919 - 2006) Brief biography and picture.

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NOTES ABOUT THIS LIST

Noteworthy alumni are those students (not necessarily graduates) or faculty of Jamaica High School who have received public notice for their achievements and who exemplify to current students dedication to the American values of courage, persistence, study and hard work in overcoming obstacles, seizing opportunities and making the most of their talents. As of 11/22/08 there are 117 persons listed here.

Beginning with just a handful of names in 1999, this list has been slowly enlarged by the suggestions of faculty and alumni and by searches of the world wide web and the complete Proquest system of periodical databases. It is expected that future searches of the web and periodical databases will yield additional names because those sources continue to add new current material as well as retrospective material.

Researchers are cautioned to distinguish the Jamaica High School of Queens, New York from at least three other Jamaica High Schools: in the West Indies, Illinois, and Indiana. To forestall link rot (dead links), where possible, external web sites have been reproduced or quoted on this site with credit and a link to the original source. A question mark after a class year indicates that the year has not yet been verified in a yearbook but was only approximated by adding 18 to the year of birth.

All additional suggestions and self-nominations are welcome. Because a person's high school is seldom named in publications or on the web, we can not know of an interesting candidate who does not show up in a web search unless someone gives us the name.

Please keep in mind that this list is not simply a necrology or a newsletter. It is hoped that individual class websites will serve those functions. This list is intended to be interesting reading for current and potential students and faculty as well as for alumni from all class years.
(Revised 11/22/08. DFJ)