They Lived in Monroe Township, NJ: Famous Monroe Township Residents

Monroe Township and Middlesex County have their share of noteworthy people that have put down roots over the years. From sports figures to musicians to scientists, the region has been home to an impressive roster of talent.

Here are some of the most famous individuals that were once residents of the area.

Famous journalists

• Margaret Bourke-White

Margaret Bourke-White (1904 – 1971) grew up in a home now on the New Jersey Historic Register as the Joseph and Minnie White House in Middlesex.

Margaret was a documentary photographer who gained notoriety as the first female war journalist and the first foreign photographer to take pictures inside the Soviet Union. One of her photographs even graced the cover of Life magazine’s first issue.

• Anna Quindlen

Anna Quindlen, the Pulitzer Prize-winner for her New York Times column Public and Private, went to South Brunswick High School. Her 1994 novel, “One True Thing,” became a feature film starring another New Jersey notable, Meryl Streep. Quindlen was a 2016 inductee of the New Jersey Hall of Fame and currently resides in New York City.

Famous sports figures

• Randy Beverly

Randy Beverly was born in Wildwood, but after his career in the AFL and NFL, he retired to Monroe Township. Beverly excelled at track, football, and baseball at Wildwood High School. In his college senior year, he caught the eye of a New York Jets scout and gained a spot on the team.

In 1969, Randy became famous for making two critical interceptions during Super Bowl III that led the New York Jets to a stunning victory.

• Dave Meads

David Donald Meads was born in Montclair and graduated from Monroe Township High School in 1981, where he excelled at baseball. After continuing his play at Middlesex County College, Dave signed with the Houston Astros in 1984 as a relief pitcher.

Middlesex County College inaugurated Dave into their Athletic Hall of Fame as the first player from MCC to play for the MLB. Dave now resides in California.

• Charlie Weis

Charlie Weis was born in Trenton but grew up in Middlesex and graduated from Middlesex High School. Weis is famous for being the head football coach of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish from 2005 to 2009. He also was the head coach for the University of Kansas from 2012 to 2014.

Weis returned to New Jersey to coach at local high schools after college before advancing to a professional coaching career for the Giants under Bill Parcells in 1990.

Famous educators and scientists

• Raymond E. Arvidson

Raymond E. Arvidson graduated in 1965 from Williamstown High School in Monroe Township. After focusing on geology and planetary sciences at Brown University, Arvidson became famous for his work and contributions to the NASA Mars missions. He continues his role today as the director of the Geosciences Node of NASA’s Planetary Data System.

• Sophie Lutterlough

Sophie Lutterlough (born in 1910) became an entomologist but began her career as the first woman elevator operator at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History in the 1940s. During a time of discriminatory hiring practices, Lutterlough educated herself about the museum’s exhibits and gained a role in the entomological department, classifying insects and restoring exhibits for the remainder of her career.

In 1999, the widowed Lutterlough moved to Monroe Township to live with her daughter until her passing in 2009.

Famous entertainers

• Jon Bon Jovi

Jon Bon Jovi was born John Francis Bongiovi Jr. in Perth Amboy in 1962. He founded the famous band Bon Jovi with his fellow Middlesex County friends Tico Torres and Richie Sambora from Woodbridge, David Bryan from Edison, and John Such.

Jon Bon Jovi had a home in the Navesink section of Middletown until 2020, and now resides in Palm Beach, FL.

• Tige Andrews

Tige Andrews (1920 – 2007) became famous for playing law-enforcement officers Lieutenant Johnny Russo and Captain Adam Greer in The Detectives and The Mod Squad on ABC Television.

Born in Brooklyn, Andrews moved to Middlesex as a child and graduated from Bound Brook High School. After attending the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, he took roles on Broadway and has an extensive resume of television and film appearances.

• David Copperfield

David Copperfield (born in Metuchen in 1956 as David Seth Kotkin) is one of the most famous and successful magicians in history. His performances on stage and television have won him countless fans, awards, and a Living Legend title from the U.S. Library of Congress. He now resides in Las Vegas.

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