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1997 – Atlantic County Women's Hall Of Fame
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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

In 1966, Elizabeth Barstow Alton was responsible for organizing the original charter for Richard Stockton College of New Jersey and, later, served as the second chairperson for the Board of Trustees. She has served on the Governor’s Conference on Education, was State Chairman of Women’s Divisions of both the U.S. Savings Bonds and Radio Free Europe Campaigns and several other organizations. – Deceased

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

In 1972, Bernice Katzman became the first woman president of Congregation Beth Israel in Atlantic County and is one of the first women ever elected to the post of president of a reform congregation in the United States. – Retired

Liane P. Levenson, Esq. - Law/Contemporary Achiever

In 1996, Liane P. Levenson became the first woman president and officer of the Atlantic County Bar Association in its 100 year old history.

Vicki Gold Levi - Humanities-Literature/Contemporary Achiever

As a child she studied dance locally with Chloe Price, was Bess Myerson’s page in the 1946 Miss America pageant, had her own radio show at five (‘View by Vicki’) on WMID with Al Owen and acted summer stock at the Gateway Playhouse. She worked for Cosmopolitan magazine in New York City and co-authored the book on her hometown, Atlantic City, 125 of Ocean Madness, published in 1979.


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

Currently serving her third term as Chairman of the new Jersey State Council on the Arts, Lillian Levy is the first Atlantic County resident to be appointed to the Council and the first woman from Southern New Jersey to serve as Chairman. A graduate of the Juilliard School, Lillian has devoted her life to the arts and has been an unrelenting arts advocate. – Deceased

Josephine Nania - Business/Contemporary Achiever

Josephine Nania was the first woman Vice Present of South Jersey Bank in 1972. She entered banking in 1945 with Cape May County National Bank. She was chosen by Sun Newspaper in 1989 as a role model and one of the area’s most outstanding women in conjunction with National Women’s History Month. – Deceased

Sister Grace Nolan - Social Services/Contemporary Achiever

Sister Grace Nolan has been the Administrator of the Catholic Social Services of the Diocese of Camden since 1970. This great humanitarian handles all of the charities in the Atlantic City area. She is active in BirthRight, helping many unwed mothers and counseling young women. – Deceased

Virginia Gaye Kelly Robinson - Public Safety/Contemporary Achiever

Virginia Gaye Kelly Robinson became the first woman lifeguard for the Atlantic City Beach Patrol in 1975.

Helen W. Walsh - Government-Public Service/Contemporary Achiever

In June 1988, Helen W. Walsh was appointed by the County Executive Richard E. Squires to the position of County Administrator. It was her second time in that position, having served for two and one-half years under former County Executive Charles Worthington, from 1981-84. Ms. Walsh is active in civic affairs and holds a Masters degree in Political Science from Tufts University.

Sara Spencer Washington-posthumous - Entrepreneur/Pioneer

In 1927, Madame Washington became the first Atlantic County woman to own a major, national manufacturing corporation and school in 11 cities in the United States and several franchise schools in foreign countries. She was the founder of the Apex News and Hair Company of Atlantic City.

Rita Zaberer - Business/Contemporary Achiever

Rita Zaberer was the first woman to serve on Boardwalk National Bank’s Board of Directors. For years, she operated Zaberer’s Gables Inn with her husband Charlie. After his death in 1971, the restaurant remained in business for 13 years. – Deceased.

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

Dolores G. Cooper became the first woman Assemblywomen, 2nd District in 1982. For over 45 years, she exemplified the spirit of public service and volunteerism for thousands of Atlantic County and New Jersey residents. She was appointed a member of the Governor’s Commission on Hunger and Alzheimer’s Disease. For 9 years she was the sponsor of an impressive array of bills aimed at providing real benefits to the people and constituents of her district. – Deceased

Lavinia Johnson Coursey – Religion/Pioneer

Under the jurisdiction of the New Jersey Annual Conference of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, Lavinia Johnson Coursey became one of the first female evangelist ministers in Atlantic County. Mrs. Coursey was the owner of an Atlantic City Rooming House as well as a home-based custom tailor/dress shop. She also taught piano.

Susan H. Curcio, Esq. - Law/Contemporary Achiever

In 1977, Susan H. Curcio became the first woman Assistant Prosecutor for Atlantic County. In her 18 years in the Prosecutor’s Office, Susan has served in the Grand Jury and trial Sections. She started the office’s first juvenile Prosecution Unit and she has acted as an Administrative Assistant Prosecutor and as Section Chief for the Grand Jury, Crimes Against Children and Vehicular Homicide Units. She now supervises the investigation and handles the prosecution and trial of cases involving vehicular assault, homicide and crimes against children.

Jane M. Flipping - Education/Pioneer

In 1950, Jane Miller Flipping founded and directed the first integrated nursery school in Atlantic County. Presently, she is Executive Director of the Boys and Girls Club of Atlantic City. She maintains her consulting company, MENTOR Associates and has been an advocate for children since her early days in high school and college serving and volunteering with community organizations.

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.