List of famous Great neckers continues to grow

Richard Jacques

As a hobby, a former resident continues to add to a helpful list of names of famous Great Neck people for anyone to enjoy. About 30 new names were recently added to the hundreds already on the list of Famous and Recognized Great Neckers which was complied from internet sources, books, notes from classmates and other papers and includes people who either live or have lived in the Great Neck area, according to Edgar von Schmidt-Pauli, the list’s author.

Now living in Virginia after moving from Great Neck in 1963, von Schmidt-Pauli said he has been working on the list for about five years simply because of his love for history and his hometown.

“If you’ve ever lived in Great Neck, you’ve heard about the history,” said von Schmidt-Pauli. “I have something in my heart about Great neck.”

Some of the most names added to the list this year include Andrew Chaikin, author of “A Man on The Moon;” Richard Allen Epstein professor at the University of Chicago and author; Peter Benedek, founder of United Talent Agency; Jeffrey L. Fine, who won Best Parenting Book in 2010 for “The Art of Conscious Parenting;” Joel Greenblatt founder of NYC Charter schools; Al Grey, jazz trombonist with Count Basie and Dizzie Gillespie, Congressman Peter T. King; Carl Sigman, song lyricist of “Pennsylvania 6-5000;” and Gilbert Tilles, founder of the Tilles Center at C.W .Post.

Von Schmidt-Pauli, a graduate of Great Neck High School in 1953, lived in Great Neck from 1938 to 1963 in several areas including Great Neck Estates. He has remained in touch with classmates and other people associated with Great Neck who have helped in with the list.

Two books, “Inventing Great Neck” by Judith S. Goldstein, and the “Ultimate Book of Great Neck” by Marcelle S. Fischler, were also helpful in putting the list together, according to von Schmidt-Pauli.

The list of famous Great Neckers can be found on the internet at www.gnalumni.org or by searching Google under ‘famous Great Neck residents’ and it is free for anyone to use or add to, said von Schmidt-Pauli, who will continue to make updates to the names on the list.

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