This is a list of notable alumni of the Montclair High School in Montclair, New Jersey.
Arts and architecture Nanette Carter (born 1954), artist and college educator, best known for her collages with paper, canvas, and MylarMajor, Gerri. "Gerri Major's Society World", p. 38. Jet, December 19, 1974. Accessed February 6, 2020. "Nanette Carter, a graduate of Montclair (N. J.) High School, daughter of former Mayor and Mrs. Matthew Carter, is studying at the University of Perugia, in Perugia, Italy." Lola Flash (born 1959), large-scale photographer Rees Jones (born 1941), golf course architectRothman, Evan. "Eminence Green: Golf course designer Rees Jones chats about redoing two of New Jersey's most prestigious courses—Baltusrol and Montclair Golf Club.", New Jersey Monthly, April 11, 2011. Accessed January 28, 2012. "While proud of his accomplishments, Jones hastens to add, "Don't forget to mention that I'm in the Montclair High School Hall of Fame." That illustrious group, he notes, includes astronaut Buzz Aldrin and former New Jersey Devils owner John McMullen." Robert Trent Jones Jr. (born 1939, class of 1957), golf course architectKiersh, Edward. "Leonardo of the Links", The New York Times, November 13, 1988. Accessed January 28, 2012. "Still, he's resentfully viewed as an interloper by his older brother. "Whatever I did, Rees followed," says Jones Jr. 'I was in the Boy Scouts. He went to the Boy Scouts. I went to Montclair High School and Yale. He went to Montclair and Yale. I went to California. Rees went to California. It's a little strange.'"
Business Clarence Birdseye (1886–1956), founder of the modern frozen food industry George V. Holton (1890–1972), chairman of Mobil Oil Charles B. Johnson (born 1933, class of 1950), businessmanWordsmith, Lily. "10 Things You Didn't Know About Billionaire Charles Johnson", Money Inc. Accessed July 12, 2020. "This 86-year old billionaire was born on January 6, 1933 in Montclair, New Jersey... After graduating from Montclair High School, Charles would go on to attend Yale University in 1950." J. Erik Jonsson (1901–1995), businessman, philanthropist, and former mayor of Dallas, Texas"J. Erik Jonsson papers Part 2; A Guide to the Collection", University of Texas Libraries. Accessed December 3, 2017. "John Erik Jonsson was born in Brooklyn, New York, on September 6, 1901, the only child of John Peter and Ellen Charlotte (Palmquist) Jonsson. His parents were naturalized citizens, having independently immigrated to the United States from Sweden in the 1890s. In 1912 the family moved to Montclair, New Jersey, where at age sixteen Jonsson graduated from Montclair High School." John McMullen (1918–2005), former owner of the New Jersey Devils and Houston AstrosLaPointe, Joe. "In Person; At Home on the Ice", The New York Times, June 11, 1995. Accessed January 24, 2012. "The team's owner, John McMullen, is a local businessman and graduate of Montclair High School, but even he is exploring the possibility of carpetbagging the franchise to Nashville." Robert Crooks Stanley (1876–1951), former chairman and president of International Nickel Company, known for discovering the alloy Monel"Robert C. Stanley Fellowships Are Offered At Stevens Stevens Institute of Technology", The Morning Call, January 25, 1955. Accessed February 10, 2026, via Newspapers.com. "Born in Little Falls, on Aug. 1, 1876, Mr. Stanley received his early education at Montclair High School and matriculated at Stevens Institute of the Technology, where he received degree of Mechanical Engineer in 1899."[c Robert Crooks Stanley (1876-1951) – The Grandfather of the Nickel Industry (Part 1 of 2)], Republic of Mining, February 16, 2009. Accessed February 10, 2026. "Stanley (1876-1951) was born in Little Falls, New Jersey. During his high school days at nearby Montclair, he found time to play football and was an outstanding back. A 1940 edition of Forbes Magazine aptly: 'Bob Stanley, though short, was well-knit and game as a pebble. Hence he won the job as right end and ball carrier on the Montclair, N.J. High School football team. He has been carrying the ball ever since.'" Benjamin Strong Jr. (1872–1928), first governor of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York
Entertainment Al Anderson (born 1950), guitarist and songwriter, who played with Bob Marley and The WailersJames, Grasshopper. "Reggae Guitar Player Al Anderson" , GuitarBites.com, June 7, 2010. Accessed July 15, 2011. "Anderson attended Montclair High School where he learned to play the trombone before getting expelled. He later attended the Berklee College of Music and took up bass guitar. He joined The Centurions, which brought him to the attention of Chris Wood of Traffic, who invited him to play on the band's next album." Chuck Burgi (born 1952, class of 1970), drummerMumford, Fred. "Musical Talent Reunited", The Montclair Times, March 8, 1984. Accessed July 2, 2024. "has been a while since Chuck Burgi was drumming for high school proms and church affairs back in 1970 as a senior at Montclair High School. However, the Montclair resident and drummer for the rock band Rainbow, who received a Grammy Nomination from the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences for its 26th Annual Awards held recently, has not forgotten his musical roots." Michael Colleary (class of 1978), film producer, screenwriter and television writer, whose writing credits include Face/OffSeitz, Matt Zoller; and Sepinwall, Alan. "A Reel-Life Success", The Star-Ledger, July 2, 1997. Accessed October 16, 2025, via Newspapers.com. "Colleary, a 1978 graduate of Montclair High, studied journalism at Temple University before enrolling in UCLA's graduate screenwriting program." Evan Stephens Hall (born 1989), musician best known as the frontman of the indie rock band PinegroveGlaser, Brian. "Pinegrove's Montclair Roots Are Showing", Baristanet, March 16, 2016. Accessed March 29, 2022. "The band's breakthrough album Cardinal was recorded mostly in a Montclair bedroom, and singer-songwriter Evan Stephens Hall says that's a crucial part of Pinegrove's sound... Pinegrove formed when Evan and Zack Levine, who went to Glenfield Middle School and Montclair High School together, came back to NJ after graduating from college." Daniel Karcher (born 1964), NPR host and filmmaker, best known as host on WBGO and production of The Blair Witch Project and Family GuyOguss, Elizabeth. "Still hanging out at the Amphitheater" , copy of an article from The Montclair Times, June 4, 2009. Accessed January 1, 2012. "At first, Dan Karcher, a 1983 graduate of Montclair High School who now lives in Pattenburg, resisted joining Facebook, the social networking site middle-aged people have been flocking to." Nicole Leach (born 1979), actressJaeger, Barbara. "N.J. child actresses take their roles to heart: Musical benefits the AIDS fight", The Record, April 28, 1995. Accessed October 16, 2025, via Newspapers.com. "Last year, Leach, a sophomore at Montclair High School, participated in 'Kids Care,' which she said helped raise approximately $25,000 for the AIDS battle." Warren Littlefield (born 1952), former President of NBC EntertainmentPorter, Mark S. "Lucky Number 13", The Montclair Times, April 21, 2011. Accessed January 28, 2012. "'Troop 13 gave me not only a lot of knowledge, but it gave me a lot of confidence,' noted Warren Littlefield, who rose to the rank of Eagle Scout in the Troop. In 1969, a year before he graduated from Montclair High School, Littlefield presented Apollo 11 astronaut Buzz Aldrin, who also grew up in Montclair, with an honorary Boy Scout Aeronautics Merit Badge after Aldrin and Neil Armstrong returned to Earth after landing on the Moon."Montclair High School Hall of Fame , accessed April 19, 2007. Christina Ricci (born 1980), actressNew Jersey Entertainers, Famous New Jerseyans. Accessed January 1, 2012. "Christina Ricci – b. 1980, Montclair, NJ: Born in Santa Monica, California, the family moved to Montclair, where Christina attended elementary, middle, and high school." Rosemary Rice (1925–2012), actress best known for her role as Katrin on CBS-TV series Mama"Rosemary Rice, High School Senior In Play Cast Heading for Broadway", The Montclair Times, September 24, 1942. Accessed February 5, 2021, via Newspapers.com. "Miss Rosemary Rice, Montclair High School senior, and daughter of Lieutenant Commander and Mrs. Albert F. Rice of 119 Edgemont Road, Upper Montclair, has stepped into the footlight spotlight." Anwar Robinson (born 1979), American Idol finalistBruder, Jessica. "Idolatry, But In A Good Way", The New York Times, March 27, 2005. Accessed August 7, 2018. "Raised in Newark by his mother, Elaine Robinson, he began singing in third grade at the age of 8. He attended the Newark Boys Chorus School and, when the family moved in 1994, he transferred to Montclair High School as a sophomore." Ben Rosenfield (born 1992), actorRookwood, Dan. "Mr Ben Rosenfield", Mr. Porter (retailer), September 2, 2015. Accessed August 17, 2021. "Though he lives close to Columbia, Mr. Rosenfield never made it to university... 'I barely graduated from high school. I was an unhappy kid, I didn't go to class very often.' All of which made him a surprising choice to return to his alma mater, Montclair High School in New Jersey, as the commencement speaker at this year's graduation ceremony." Adam Schlesinger (1967–2020), bassist for the band Fountains of WayneYoungs, Stuart. "Great Scott!: Fountains of Wayne tap Montclair connection for album track", The Montclair Times, October 26, 2005. Accessed August 10, 2007. "That's very cool," the Montclair High School grad said with a relief that would make one wonder whether he has offended a family member or former girlfriend in the past. Elaine Stewart (1930–2011), actress and model"Elaine Stewart Returns!", The Montclair Times, March 26, 1953. Accessed February 10, 2026, via Newspapers.com. "Elaine, who is the daughter of Police Sergeant and Mrs. Ulrich Steinberg, in a miraculously short time and with seeming ease, has carved a place for herself in that granite fortress, Hollywood. She sold you your ticket of admission to the Bellevue Theatre when she was still at Montclair High School." Joe Walsh (born 1947), musician with the EaglesJames Gang: Joe Walsh , The Aquarian Weekly, August 16, 2006. Alex Winter (born 1965), actor, best known for his role in Bill & Ted's Excellent AdventureSchindegette, Susan. "An Excellent Dude Goes to Hell", People, August 12, 1991. Accessed July 15, 2011. "After graduating from high school in Montclair, N.J. (where he moved with his mother after her divorce), Alex signed up at New York University film school, only to drop out because of 'complete financial breakdown.'"
Law Lezli Baskerville (born 1956), lawyer who has served as president and CEO of the National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher EducationLezli Baskerville, The HistoryMakers. Accessed March 29, 2020. "After graduating from Montclair High School, Baskerville received her bachelor's degree from Douglass Residential College in New Jersey, and later earned her J.D. degree from Howard University School of Law in 1979."
Politics Harold L. Colburn Jr. (1925–2012), physician and politician who served in the New Jersey General Assembly representing the 8th Legislative District from 1984 to 1995Manual of the Legislature of New Jersey, Volume 206, Part 1, p. 239. J.A. Fitzgerald., 1994. Accessed June 8, 2020. "Assemblyman Colburn was born in Orange on Oct. 2, 1925. He attended Montclair High School, and graduated from Princeton University in 1947."