Honored for his achievements in 1991 was James Gerstenzang. Mr. Gerstenzang, class of 1965, was a newspaper reporter for the Associated Press. Also inducted that year was a Vietnam War hero from the class of 1950, Peter S. Connor, who died in battle and was posthumously awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for his bravery.
Teresa Wright of the class of 1938, an Academy Award-winning actress was inducted to the CHS Hall of Fame in 1992. Ms. Wright won her Academy Award for supporting actress in 1943 for her work in Alfred Hitchcock’s movie, Shadow of a Doubt, the film said to be Hitchcock’s favorite. She was also nominated that same year for leading actress for her role in Pride of the Yankees. Recently the film The Rainmaker brought together three Columbia alumni and Hall of Fame members: Teresa Wright, Roy Scheider and Andrew Shue all had featured roles in this movie.
In 1993 the Hollywood writer and producer Linda Gottlieb was celebrated. Ms. Gottlieb, who graduated from Columbia in 1956, produced the commercially successful film Dirty Dancing. Hollywood stars,
brother and sister,Andrew and Elisabeth Shue (CHS 1985 and 1981 respectively) were 1994’s inductees — to date, the only siblings to be so honored.
Henry Pryor was distinguished both for his work as an inspirational educator and his accomplishments as an athlete. Pryor graduated with the class of 1943 and he was inducted to the Hall of fame in 1995. Also remembered that year was Dr. Orrin Devinsky, of the class of 1974. The noted neurologist is a leading authority on strokes and emotional intelligence.
1996 also saw two former Columbia students remembered. Myrth York, the political leader and 1964 graduate, was honored along with NBA star Mark Bryant. Bryant completed his studies at CHS in 1984. The following year the much-admired educator and guidance counselor Peter Cross was admitted into the Hall of Fame. (Cross graduated in 1954.)
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