1997
Barbara Altman, Elizabeth Barstow Alton, Maryjane Briant, Rosalind Cash, Dolores G. Cooper, Susan H. Curcio, Esq., Lavinia Johnson Course, Jane M. Flipping, Rebecca Hallowell, Bernice Katzman, Beatrice K. Haynes Knowles, Liane P. Levenson, Esq., Vicki Gold Levi, Lillian Levy, Josephine Nania, Sister Grace Nolan, Virginia Gaye Kelly Robinson, Helen W. Walsh, Sarah Spencer Washington, Rita Zaberer
Barbara Altman - Journalism/Media - Contemporary Achiever
A long list of ‘Firsts’ defines Barbara Altman’s life: In addition to being the first ‘Mistress of Ceremonies’ for first Atlantic Country Women’s Hall of Fame Honors Ceremony in 1996, she was the first (and only) daughter born in a family with six children.
She became the first licensed woman disc jockey in New Jersey and, currently the only local talk show hosted by a woman. She was the first Ventnor special events coordinator and originated the Ventnor Mile and Ventnor Memorial Day 5k and 10k races. Barbara was also the race director for the first Miss America Run, which in its second year became the run to promote breast cancel awareness and she was the race director of the first local Saucony Women’s Distance Festival. A member of the Boardwalk Runner’s Club, Barbara created the first Atlantic City Marathon scholarship in running cross-country or track for Atlantic City high school seniors.
Elizabeth Barstow Alton - Education/Contemporary Achiever
Mary Jane Briant - Journalism/Media
First Managing Editor of a daily newspaper in Atlantic County. Was also News Editor, covering national and international news. Was a Board member of the Boys and Girls Club of Atlantic City; was volunteer aiding speech therapists at Children’s Seashore House. Maryjane was, most recently, Director, News and Media Relations at Stockton University.
Bernice Katzman - Religion
Liane P. Levenson, Esq. - Law/Contemporary Achiever
Vicki Gold Levi - Humanities-Literature/Contemporary Achiever
As contributing editor to Esquire Magazine, she wrote a column in the Philadelphia Bulletin called ‘Atlantic City, the Way it was.’ In 1985, along with Florence Valore Miller and Anthony Kutschera, she co-founded the Atlantic City Historical Museum on Garden Pier. She sponsored the award-winning permanent exhibition Atlantic City: Playground of the Nation.
Lillian Levy - Arts-Entertainment/Contemporary Achiever
Josephine Nania - Business/Contemporary Achiever
Sister Grace Nolan - Social Services/Contemporary Achiever
Virginia Gaye Kelly Robinson - Public Safety/Contemporary Achiever
Helen W. Walsh - Government-Public Service/Contemporary Achiever
Sara Spencer Washington-posthumous - Entrepreneur/Pioneer
Rita Zaberer - Business/Contemporary Achiever
Rosalind Cash - Arts & Entertainment/Pioneer
Rosalind Cash was the first Atlantic County actress to star in a major Hollywood film. Cash, a veteran stage, screen and TV actress considered by many as a woman of great achievement in the arts, died suddenly of cancer on October 31, 1995 in Los Angeles.
A graduate of Atlantic City High School, she appeared in about 20 films, including ‘The Omega Man,’ ‘Uptown Saturday Night,’ ‘Tales From the Hood’ and ‘Circle of Pain.’ She received an Emmy nomination for her stage performance in ‘Go Tell it on the Mountain.
Dolores G. Cooper - Government-Public Service/Contemporary Achiever
Lavinia Johnson Coursey – Religion/Pioneer
Susan H. Curcio, Esq. - Law/Contemporary Achiever
Jane M. Flipping - Education/Pioneer
Rebecca Cooper Hallowell - Medicine/Posthumous
Born in Haddonfield, NJ in 1830, Dr. REBECCA COOPER HALLOWELL became the first woman member of the New Jersey Medical Society, established in 1874. She established her practice in Atlantic City and was the first female physician in Atlantic County.
Beatrice K. Knowles - Law Enforcement
Born in Atlantic City in 1942, BEATRICE K. KNOWLES became the first female police sergeant in Atlantic County.