Jersey pride — and grit — on display at N.J. Hall of Fame induction

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When Martin Brodeur was selected by the Devils in 1990, he was a well-known 18-year-old prospect from Canada — who apparently knew little about the Garden State.

“When I got drafted by the New Jersey Devils, I was like, ‘What city is that?’” he said. “I had no clue. I thought every team was named after a city.”

Brodeur quickly learned to embrace his now-adopted home state.

Speaking Friday night, during the celebration of the 2025 Class of the New Jersey Hall of Fame, Brodeur said the connection between the team and the state meant a lot to him during a 21-year career that saw the Devils win three Stanley Cups.

“I learned to take pride in the fact that we represented the whole state, not just one part of it,” he said. “That was special.”

That sense of state pride resonated throughout the evening, a star-studded event at American Dream, which houses the Hall.

Inductee David Burke, a celebrity chef who has restaurants up and down the East Coast (but mostly in Jersey), said growing up in the Garden State fueled his success.

“When I started cooking here as kid, I was always amazed by the energy and the competitiveness in the people that work in the kitchen,” he said. “It’s unlike anywhere else. It’s Jersey.”

That competitive fire comes out in all aspects of society.

Inductee John Keegan, the longtime leader of the Edison Innovation Foundation, said the spirit of Edison remains today.

“An inventor creates one thing, one product or one process — an innovator changes the world,” he said. “That’s what we have in New Jersey.

“This state has a lot of soul. We’ve got people with a real yearning to try to make a difference – to try to improve the quality of life of people.”

Steve Edwards, the CEO of the N.J. Hall of Fame, said the Hall aims to recognize those efforts every year.

“I think it’s very important for New Jerseyans to remember what Gov. Tom Kean said back in the 80s: When people feel proud, they feel anything is possible for the future,” he said.

“This state has so much to be proud of. We have so many people that make the world a better place. We have so many reasons to celebrate. In a world where there’s so much negative coming at us every day, you have to take time to talk about the positive. That’s what this night is all about.”

That spirit, Bob Garrett said, is why Hackensack Meridian Health became a major sponsor of the Hall.

“The New Jersey Hall of Fame represents everything that is great about New Jersey,” he said. “We are thrilled to be a part of it.”

The Hall, which was established in 2008, is approaching 400 members, following a class of 17 this year (listed below).

It includes honorees from Arts & Letters, Business, Performing Arts, Public Service and Sports. Each inductee shares one commonality, a strong connection to Jersey – and the sense of pride and grit that comes with it.

David Bryan, a keyboardist for the famed rock band, Bon Jovi, and a Tony Award- winning lyricist and composer, has performed around the world – but said he’s never forgotten his roots.

“We played in 130 countries, but we never forgot where we’re from,” he said. “It made us. We showed that if you believe in yourself and work hard enough you can make it from anywhere.”

The Class of 2025

Arts & Letters

• Dana Bash, CNN chief political correspondent
• Mary Alice Williams, a founding anchor of CNN, and former anchor for NJTV News

Enterprise

• Frank Bisignano, former CEO of Fiserv
• David Burke, renowned restaurateur and culinary innovator
• Larry Inserra, Jr., chairman & CEO of Inserra Supermarkets
• Zygi Wilf, Real estate developer and co-owner of the Minnesota Vikings

Performing Arts & Entertainment

• David Bryan, keyboardist for rock band Bon Jovi and Tony Award-winning lyricist and composer
• The Isley Brothers, Grammy Award-winning music group
• Jonas Brothers, award-winning pop band
• Michael Uslan, originator and executive producer of the Batman movie franchise

Public Service

• John Keegan, chairman and CEO, Charles Edison Fund and Edison Innovation Foundation

• Lieutenant Governor Sheila Y. Oliver*, New Jersey’s second Lieutenant Governor and the first woman of color elected to statewide office in the state’s history

• William Edward Simon*, businessman, philanthropist and former U.S. Secretary of the Treasury
• David Wilentz*, former attorney general of New Jersey and founder of law firm Wilentz, Goldman, and Spitzer

Sports

• Martin Brodeur, former ice hockey goalie and current team executive for the New Jersey Devils
• Hubie Brown, former basketball player, analyst, and two-time NBA Coach of the Year

• Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, Olympic gold medalist and world record holder in the 400-meter hurdles

*Honored posthumously.