A diverse group of accomplished individuals in fields ranging from the arts and athletics to academia and media has ties to Westbury.
Among the most notable is Michael Cimino (1939–2016), an Academy Award-winning filmmaker best known for directing “The Deer Hunter,” which earned five Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Director. Cimino attended W. T. Clarke High School, located in the Salisbury area of the East Meadow School District, which serves part of Westbury.
Several other alumni of W. T. Clarke High School found success in professional sports. Bud Anderson, born in 1956, was a Major League Baseball pitcher who played for the Cleveland Indians in the early 1980s. Ron Klimkowski (1944–2009), another Clarke graduate, pitched for the New York Yankees and Oakland Athletics during a five-year MLB career. Tom Donohue, born in 1952, also played in the major leagues as a catcher for the California Angels from 1979 to 1980.
Skip Jutze, born in 1946, was a major league catcher who played with the Houston Astros, Seattle Mariners and St. Louis Cardinals. Joel Ross also represented Westbury in athletics as a professional tennis player.
In the world of basketball, Paul Hewitt, born in 1963, served as head coach of the men’s basketball teams at Georgia Tech and George Mason University. Tyson Walker, born in 2000, played college basketball for the Michigan State Spartans after transferring from Northeastern University. Steve Serio, born in 1987, has earned multiple medals as a paralympic wheelchair basketball player and captained Team USA at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games.
Westbury has also produced several individuals in entertainment. Kevin Conroy (1955–2022) was an actor most widely known for voicing Batman in the DC Animated Universe, a role he held for over three decades. Nancy McKeon, born in 1966, rose to prominence as an actress in the 1980s television series “The Facts of Life,” while her brother Philip McKeon (1964–2019) was also an actor, recognized for his role on the sitcom “Alice.”
Music and performance are represented by Joe Satriani, born in 1956, a world-renowned guitarist, composer and producer. A Long Island native, Satriani gained acclaim for his technical skill and instrumental rock compositions. Freddie Foxx, also known as Bumpy Knuckles, is a rapper affiliated with notable hip-hop groups such as Gang Starr and the Gang Starr Foundation. Doctor Dré, born in 1963, gained fame as a co-host of Yo! MTV Raps and as a radio DJ.
DJ Rekha, born in 1971, is credited with pioneering the South Asian bhangra music scene in New York City, bridging traditional South Asian rhythms with contemporary electronic and hip-hop sounds.
Literature and the arts are also well represented. Sarah Ban Breathnach is an author whose work focuses on self-help and personal fulfillment. Arthur Dobrin, born in 1943, is a writer and professor who has served on the faculty of Hofstra University.
Geeta Citygirl, born in 1971, is an actor and the founding artistic director of SALAAM Theatre. Established as the first professional, not-for-profit South Asian American theater company in the United States, SALAAM Theatre focuses on promoting South Asian voices in American theater.
Business and media also feature Westbury connections. Irene Rosenfeld, born in 1953, served as CEO of major food corporations, including Kraft Foods and Mondelēz International. She was born in Westbury and graduated from W. T. Clarke High School. Bill O’Reilly, born in 1949, is a longtime television host and author, best known for his tenure at Fox News, where he hosted “The O’Reilly Factor” for more than 15 years.
In public service, Spann Watson (1916–2010), a former Westbury resident, was a decorated member of the Tuskegee Airmen, the first African-American military aviators in the U.S. Armed Forces. After serving during World War II, Watson went on to work for the Federal Aviation Administration, where he played a role in integrating the organization.
This wide-ranging list of notable individuals reflects Westbury’s broad impact on national culture and achievement, spanning multiple generations and disciplines.
