Hackensack River Canoe & Kayak Club
www.hrckc.org



It Must Be The Water...


Famous folks from around the Hackensack River watershed.  Whether born here or transplanted, we're certain that good ole' Hackensack River water had something to do with their success!


ALPINE

Eddie Murphy. One-time home of one of the kings of comedy. Anybody know if he is still there?

BAYONNE
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Rumor has it they were 'born' in the sewer in Bayonne. Seems somebody didn't think that was glamorous enough, and changed it to Manhattan. Anybody know for sure?
Jackie Gleason. Bayonne's own website claims the "great one" bought all his suits here. Musta at least had one glass of water while he was here.

ENGLEWOOD
John Travolta. Vinny Barbarino, Tony Manero, Broken Arrow, Michael. Dwight Morrow High School's favorite son. Born and raised here.
Brooke Shields. Model, actress, comedian (who would have thought!). Dwight Morrow High School's favorite daughter. Born in NYC, but crossed the river to attend school.
Gloria Swanson. Silent screen star and Oscar winner for Sunset Boulevard (the classic movie original). Lived for a while in a mansion on the hill. The mansion is still standing
Anne Morrow Lindbergh. Poetess, wife of aviator Charles Lindbergh, born and raised here.

HASBROUCK HEIGHTS
Richard Lewis. Rumor has it that he worked for an advertising agency here. Got fired. Wasn't creative enough. Anybody with a confirmation on this one?

JERSEY CITY
Martha Stewart. Yes, that one. Born into a nice polish family. Later moved to Nutley.
We hope she finds a use for phragmites some day. Maybe in a table centerpiece?

LEONIA
Alan Alda. Star of TV's M*A*S*H* and many, many movies. Lived here for many years. Raised his family here.

ORADELL
Wally Schirra. One of the first seven astronauts selected by NASA. The only astronaut to fly in all three pioneer programs--Mercury, Apollo, and Gemini.

PARK RIDGE / UPPER SADDLE RIVER
Richard Nixon. Retired United States President. Bought a lovely home after he returned from China. Frequently called the Bergen County Mosquito Commission to complain about--you guessed it--bugs.

RUTHERFORD
William Carlos Williams. Local pediatrician and Pulitzer Prize winning poet. Born and raised here. Alan Ginsberg credits Williams' poem "Paterson" as his inspiration.

TEANECK
Bob McGrath. Sesame Street's own 'Bob' raised five children here. Still lives here, as far as we know.
Phoebe Snow. Singer, songwriter.

TENAFLY
Elizabeth Cady Stanton. Co-founder of the Women's Suffrage movement. Right up there with Susan B. in her importance in getting women's rights into the political arena.
Ed Harris. Actor, star of The Abyss, The Right Stuff. Born and raised here.
Leslie Gore. 60's singer, born and raised here.
Paul Sorvino. Star of the big and small screens. Lived here for many years.
Mira Sorvino. We were clued into Paul and Mira's correct hometown by a surfer who knows--a cab driver!!!
Courtesy of Karen L. Siletti