Category: 1930-1959 (Born)
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Shirley Northern Green
c. 1935-1983 Appointed director of the Division of Public Welfare in 1978 by Ken Gibson. Previously served as Rent Control Administrator from 1974 to 1978, and in the Business Administrator’s office before that.…
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Ingrid Betancourt
1956- Hispanic Services Coordinator at the Newark Public Library and head of Ethnic Services and Collections. Arrived at the library in 1980. Helped found La Sala, a room for service Spanish speakers, as…
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Jacqueline “Jackie” Rendleman Jones
c. 1951-2021 Jackie was the first woman firefighter at the Newark Fire Department in 1981, along with Ethel Goldsberry who was later removed. In 1982, she was the only woman firefighter of over…
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Ramona Santiago
c. 1952- Photo from Newark Library. Ramona Santiago was appointed deputy mayor in 1994. Her grandfather came from Spain to Newark in 1914. She operated the Santiago Funeral Home of Lafayette Street saying…
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Connie Francis
1937 (some sources say 1938)- Pop singer and chart topping vocalist. Connie was born Concetta Franconero in the Ironbound section of Newark. The family briefly lived in Brooklyn before moving to NJ. She…
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Betty Lester
1945-2021 Worked in Public Defenders Office. In 1977 appointed a Municipal Court Judge at age 31. In 1985 appointed to the Superior Court of the State of New Jersey. First African American woman…
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Eleta Caldwell
1945-2017 Principal at Arts High School 1991-2003, previously Chair of Art and teacher. Artist, co-founded the 1980s, “Black Women in Visual Perspective” Group which included Gladys Grauer. Exhibited at City Without Walls, and…
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Wilma Jackson Grey
1945- Image from Newark Library First African American woman to Direct Newark Public Library. Library employee for 46 years. Graduated Arts High 1962, Class President. Then attended Howard University. Bibliography Digital.npl.org: Photo, mentions…