List of people from Arizona facts for kids

The following are people who were either born/raised or have lived for a significant period of time in the state of Arizona and/or the Arizona Territory.

Art, Literature, Journalism, and Poetry

Art

• Max Cannon (born 1962) - alternative cartoonist
• Eldridge Wayne Coleman (born 1943) - fine artist (real name of Superstar Billy Graham)
• Paolo Soleri (1919-2013) - architect

Literature

• Diana Gabaldon (born 1952) - novelist
• Kevin Hearne (born 1970) - novelist
• Stephenie Meyer (born 1973) - author, teen literature novelist, Twilight series
• Barbara Park (1947 - 2013) - author of the Junie B. Jones series
• Brady Udall (born 1971) - author

Journalism

• Jonathan Rauch (born 1960) - author, journalist and activist

Poetry

• Ai (1947–2010) - poet and educator
• Jon Anderson (1940-2007) - poet and educator
• Jayne Cortez (1934-2012) - poet, activist, small press publisher and spoken-word performance artist
• Norman Dubie (born 1945) - poet, educator, Regents Professor of English at Arizona State University
• Alberto Ríos (born 1952) - poet, author, Arizona's first state poet laureate, Regents Professor and Katharine C. Turner Endowed Chair in English at Arizona State University
• Richard Shelton (born 1933) - poet, writer, and emeritus Regents Professor of English at the University of Arizona
• Jim Simmerman (1952–2006) - poet and editor
• Luci Tapahonso (born 1953) - poet and educator
• Ofelia Zepeda (born 1952) - poet and educator

Film and theater

• Erika Alexander (born 1969) - actress
• Steve Allen (1921–2000) - comedian, actor, composer, author, known as "The Father of TV Talk Shows"
• Samaire Armstrong (born 1980) - actress, Anna Stern on The O.C.
• Jules Asner (born 1968) - actress and host of E!'s show Wild On!
• Jaime Lyn Bauer (born 1949) - soap opera actress, played Lauralee Brooks on The Young and the Restless and Laura Spencer Horton on Days of Our Lives
• Sandra Bernhard (born 1955) - actress, comedian
• Michael Biehn (born 1956) - actor, The Terminator, Tombstone
• Mika Boorem (born 1987) - actress, The Tom Show
• Lynda Carter (born 1951) - actress and singer, known for "Wonder Woman", 1972 Miss World U.S.A.
• Brady Corbet (born 1988) - actor
• Matt Dallas (born 1982) - actor, Kyle XY
• Ted Danson (born 1947) - actor, Cheers, CSI
• Rosemary DeCamp (1910–2001) - actress, Yankee Doodle Dandy, The Bob Cummings Show
• Andy Devine (1905–1977) - actor, Stagecoach, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance
• Charles Dudley (1883–1952) - stage and film actor, studio make-up artist
• Barbara Eden (born 1934) - actress, I Dream of Jeannie
• Gail Edwards (born 1952) - actress, known for her roles in It's a Living, Blossom, and Full House
• Jack Elam (1918–2003) - actor
• Michael Ensign (born 1944) - actor, Boston Legal
• Pablo Francisco (born 1974) - stand-up comedian, actor
• Sammi Hanratty (born 1995) - child actress, The Unit, The Suite Life of Zack & Cody
• Alexa Havins (born 1980) - actress, All My Children, One Life to Live, Torchwood
• Amelia Heinle (born 1973) - actress, Victoria Newman on The Young and the Restless; also played Mia Saunders on All My Children
• David Henrie (born 1989) - actor, Wizards of Waverly Place, How I Met Your Mother, That's So Raven
• Catherine Hicks (born 1951) - actress, 7th Heaven, Child's Play
• Earl Hindman (1942–2003) - actor, Ryan's Hope, Home Improvement
• Gregg Hoffman (1963–2005) - film producer
• Michael Horse (born 1951) - artist, actor, Twin Peaks, Passenger 57
• Dominic Janes (born 1994) - teen actor, ER, Out of Jimmy's Head, Dexter
• Brad Johnson (born 1959) - actor
• Tanner Maguire (born 1998) - child actor, Young Shawn Brady on Days of Our Lives
• Taryn Manning (born 1978) - actress, fashion designer, singer/songwriter
• Abigail Mavity (born 1993) - actress
• Josh McDermitt (born 1978) - actor, comedian, Dr. Eugene Porter on The Walking Dead
• Rachel Melvin (born 1985) - actress, Chelsea Brady on Days of Our Lives
• Jenny Mollen (born 1979) - actress
• Heather Morris (born 1987) - actress, Brittany Pierce on Glee
• Tarah Paige (born 1982) - actress, dancer, gymnast, Make It or Break It
• Mary Louise Parker (born 1964) - actress, Weeds, graduated from Marcos de Niza High School, Tempe
• Valerie Perrine (born 1943) - actress, Superman, Lenny
• Larry Pine (born 1945) - actor
• Greg Proops (born 1959) - actor, comedian
• Liz Renay (1926–2007) - actress
• Terry Rhoads (born 1951) - actor
• Jennifer Rubin (born 1962) - actress, model
• Kylee Saunders (born 1994) - Japanese-American singer
• Garry Shandling (born 1949) - actor, comedian, The Larry Sanders Show
• David Spade (born 1965) - actor, comedian, Saturday Night Live, Tommy Boy, Just Shoot Me
• Fay Spain (1932–1983) - actress
• Chelsea Staub (born 1988) - actress, singer, Jonas L.A., Fish Hooks
• Emma Stone (born 1988) - actress, The Help, Crazy, Stupid, Love., The Amazing Spider-Man
• Janet Varney (born 1976) - actress, On the Lot
• Kate Walsh (born 1967) - actress, Dr. Addison Montgomery on Grey's Anatomy and Private Practice
• Scott William Winters (born 1965) - actor, Oz, NYPD Blue
• Jason Zumwalt (born 1975) - actor, comedian, known as voice of Roman in Grand Theft Auto IV

Military and war

• Ira Hayes (1923–1955) - United States Marine Corps, World War II, helped to raise United States flag during the Battle of Iwo Jima
• Ralph S. Johnson (1906–2010) - aviator and former member of the Wyoming House of Representatives who retired to Scottsdale and Tempe
• Frank Luke (1897–1918) - World War I fighter pilot, Medal of Honor Recipient
• Lori Piestewa (1979–2003) - United States Army, first Native American woman from Arizona to be killed in war; Iraq War, Purple Heart and Prisoner of War Medal recipient
• Pat Tillman (1976–2004) - United States Army, Afghanistan Silver Star recipient, college and NFL football player

Music

• Jim Adkins (born 1975) - lead singer and guitarist for the band Jimmy Eat World
• Rex Allen (1920–1999) - singer-songwriter, actor, known as "The Arizona Cowboy"
• Ryan Avery - musician, comedian, performance artist
• Chester Bennington (born 1976) - singer for the band Linkin Park
• Dierks Bentley - country singer (Phoenix)
• Derrick Bostrom (born 1960) - Meat Puppets drummer
• Jess Bowen (born 1989) - alternative rock musician, drummer of The Summer Set
• Michelle Branch (born 1983) - singer-songwriter, guitarist
• Kennedy Brock (born 1989) - alternative rock musician, guitarist of The Maine
• Glen Campbell - singer, musician and actor; inductee to Country Music Hall of Fame
• Alice Cooper (born 1948) - rock and roll singer
• Brian Dales (born 1989) - alternative rock musician, lead singer of The Summer Set
• Duane Eddy – singer, inductee of Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
• Linda Eder (born 1961) - singer, Broadway star and recording artist
• Travis Edmonson (1932–2009) - singer-songwriter, part of folk duo Bud & Travis
• David Ellefson (born 1964) - bass guitar player and co-founder of the metal band Megadeth
• Dolan Ellis (born 1935) - singer-songwriter, official State Balladeer since 1966, original member of New Christy Minstrels
• Esteban – musician
• Frank Fafara - early 1960s pop singer, TV star of Wallace & Ladmo Show
• Steve George - of the group Mr. Mister
• John Gomez (born 1991) - alternative rock musician, guitarist of The Summer Set
• Stephen Gomez (born 1988) - alternative rock musician, bassist of The Summer Set
• Lalo Guerrero (1916–2005) - singer-songwriter, known as "The Father of Chicano Music," recipient of the National Medal of Arts
• Waylon Jennings – singer; inductee to Country Music Hall of Fame
• Joe Jonas - lead singer of the Jonas Brothers
• Maynard James Keenan – actor, frontman for Tool, A Perfect Circle, and Puscifer
• Patrick Kirch (born 1990) - alternative rock musician, drummer of The Maine
• Cris Kirkwood (born 1960) - guitar and vocals for the Meat Puppets
• Katie Lee - folk singer
• Charles Mingus (1922–1979) - jazz bassist, composer and bandleader
• Josh Montgomery (born 1988) - alternative rock musician, guitarist of The Summer Set
• Dave Mustaine (born 1961) - frontman and founder of the metal band Megadeth
• Jason Newsted - former bassist of heavy metal band Metallica
• Wayne Newton (born 1942) - singer, known as "Mr. Las Vegas"
• Stevie Nicks (born 1948) - Grammy-winning singer-songwriter, known for solo work and as lead singer with Fleetwood Mac
• Buck Owens - country singer and musician; inductee to the Country Music Hall of Fame (Mesa)
• Richard Page - of the group Mr. Mister
• CeCe Peniston - pop singer
• Marty Robbins (1925–1982) - country music singer
• Linda Ronstadt (born 1946) - singer and songwriter, 2014 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee
• Nate Ruess (born 1982) - lead singer of Fun. and formerly of The Format
• Alvie Self - 1960s musician and singer
• Bob Shane (born 1934) - singer, founding member of The Kingston Trio
• Jordin Sparks (born 1989) - singer, winner of American Idol Season 6
• Tanya Tucker (born 1958) - country singer
• Brooke White (born 1983) - indie pop, folk-pop singer

Old West era

• Cochise (1812–1874) - chief of the Chiricahua Apache
• Geronimo (1829–1909) - leader of Chiricahua Apache who fought against encroachment of European settlers on Native American lands; hero of Native American fight for respect and independence
• James Reavis (1843–1914) - self-styled "Baron of Arizona," claimed to have owned much of Arizona

Politics

• Thad Allen (born 1949) - retired U.S. Coast Guard admiral; National Incident Commander under President Barack Obama
• Joe Arpaio – Maricopa County Sheriff
• Bruce Babbitt (born 1938) - former Governor of Arizona (1978-1987), and Secretary of the Interior in the Clinton Administration (1993-2001)
• Harriet C. Babbitt (born 1947) - First Lady of Arizona (1978-1987), U.S. Ambassador to the Organization of American States (1993-1997), and Deputy Administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development (1997-2001)
• William Docker Browning (1931–2008) - federal judge
• Dean Burch - former chairman of the Republican National Committee
• César Chávez (1927–1993) - labor union leader
• Dennis DeConcini - (born 1937) retired U.S. Senator (1977–1994)
• Gabrielle Giffords - (born 1970) - U.S. Representative, wounded in the 2011 Tucson shooting
• Barry M. Goldwater (1909–1998) - U.S. Senator
• Carl Hayden (1877–1972) - U.S. Senator, holds the record for the longest service in the U.S. Congress
• Don Lorenzo Hubbell - Arizona State Senator
• John C. Keegan - judge, legislator, Mayor of Peoria
• Lisa Keegan - legislator, Superintendent of Public Instruction
• Denison Kitchel (1908-2002) - Scottsdale lawyer and the Goldwater presidential national campaign manager in 1964
• Rex E. Lee (1935–1996) - United States Solicitor General during the Reagan Administration
• John McCain (born 1936) - U.S. Senator, former Navy Officer and Vietnam POW
• Sandra Day O'Connor (born 1930) - first female Justice of the United States Supreme Court
• Mary Peters (born 1948) - United States Secretary of Transportation under President George W. Bush
• William Rehnquist (1924–2005) - Chief Justice of the Supreme Court
• John Shadegg (born 1949) - former U.S. representative from Phoenix
• Stephen Shadegg (1909-1990) - political consultant associated with Barry Goldwater
• John G.F. Speiden (1900–1970) Rancher and political insider. Various state boards.
• Glenn Spencer - advocate against illegal immigration
• Jack Taylor - mayor of Mesa from 1966 to 1972; member of both houses, consecutively, of the Arizona legislature
• David King Udall - Arizona Territorial Legislature
• Don Taylor Udall - Arizona State Legislature
• Jesse Addison Udall - Chief Justice of the Arizona Supreme Court
• John Hunt Udall - Mayor of Phoenix
• Levi Stewart Udall - Chief Justice of the Arizona Supreme Court
• Nick Udall - Mayor of Phoenix
• Mark Udall - Senator from Colorado
• Morris "Mo" Udall (1922–1998) - U.S. Congressman and former pro-basketball player
• Stewart Udall (born 1920) - U.S. Congressman and Secretary of the Interior during the JFK and LBJ administrations

Science and medicine

• Russell Merle Genet - research scholar and astronomer
• Joseph Hilbe (born 1944) - statistician - professor, and author
• Craig D. Idso - founder and chairman of the board of the Center for the Study of Carbon Dioxide and Global Change
• Percival Lowell (1855–1916) - astronomer and founder of the Lowell Observatory
• Julia Robinson - mathematician

Sports

Max Aaron

Jeremy Affeldt

Ike Davis

Na'il Diggs

Ryan Fitzpatrick

Channing Frye

J. J. Hardy

Ian Kinsler

Curt Schilling

• Max Aaron (born 1992) - 2013 U.S. national champion figure skater
• Jeremy Affeldt (born 1979) - relief pitcher for the San Francisco Giants
• Prince Amukamara (born 1989) - cornerback for the New York Giants
• Brian Anderson (born 1982) - outfielder for the Kansas City Royals
• Dave Baldwin (born 1938) - Major League Baseball player
• Brian Bannister (born 1981) - starting pitcher for the Kansas City Royals
• Danny Batten (born 1987) - linebacker for the Buffalo Bills
• Jerryd Bayless (born 1988) - player for the Toronto Raptors
• John Beck (born 1981) - quarterback for the Washington Redskins
• Rich Beem (born 1970) - professional golfer
• Charlie Beljan (born 1984) - professional golfer
• Mike Bell (born 1983) - running back for the New Orleans Saints
• Mike Bibby (born 1978) - retired NBA point guard
• Eddie Bonine (born 1981) - relief pitcher for the Detroit Tigers
• Dallas Braden (born 1983) - starting pitcher for the Oakland A's
• Debbie Bramwell-Washington (born 1966) - IFBB professional bodybuilder
• Brian Broderick (born 1986) - pitcher for the Sugar Land Skeeters
• Keith Brown (born 1964) - pitcher for the Cincinnati Reds
• Mike Budenholzer - head coach for the Atlanta Hawks
• Kole Calhoun (born 1987) - outfielder for the Los Angeles Angels
• Michael Carbajal (born 1967) - boxing champion
• Ka'Deem Carey (born 1992) - running back for the Chicago Bears
• D. J. Carrasco (born 1977) - MLB pitcher
• Henry Cejudo - 2008 Beijing Olympics gold medal winner in wrestling
• Steve Colter (born 1962) - retired NBA point guard
• Manuel Contreras (born 1993) - left fielder for the Arizona Diamondbacks
• Bryce Cotton (born 1992) - point guard for the San Antonio Spurs
• Billy Cundiff (born 1980) - placekicker for the Baltimore Ravens
• Ike Davis (born 1987) - first baseman for the Oakland A's
• Chris DeGeare (born 1987) - offensive guard for the Minnesota Vikings
• Na'il Diggs (born 1978) - linebacker for the San Diego Chargers
• Shelley Duncan (born 1979) - former MLB left fielder
• Sean Elliott (born 1968) - basketball player
• Andre Ethier (born 1982) - outfielder for the Los Angeles Dodgers
• Nick Evans (born 1986) - player for the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles
• Jeff Feagles - NFL punter
• Carrick Felix (born 1990) - player for the Utah Jazz
• Ryan Fitzpatrick (born 1982) - NFL quarterback
• Channing Frye (born 1983) - center and power forward for the Phoenix Suns
• Brianna & Nicole Garcia (born 1983) - professional wrestling twins, WWE from 2007 to 2012
• David Gossett (born 1979) - professional golfer
• Superstar Billy Graham (born 1943) - professional wrestler
• Everson Griffen (born 1987) - defensive end for the Minnesota Vikings
• Eric Hagg (born 1989) - safety for the Cleveland Browns
• Scott Hairston (born 1980) - left fielder for the San Diego Padres
• Max Hall (born 1985) - quarterback for the Arizona Cardinals
• J. J. Hardy (born 1982) - shortstop for the Baltimore Orioles
• Billy Hatcher (born 1960) - MLB player and coach
• Mickey Hatcher (born 1955) - MLB player and coach
• Todd Heap (born 1980) - tight end for the Baltimore Ravens
• Misty Hyman (born 1979) - 2000 Olympics gold medalist swimmer
• Reggie Jackson - professional baseball player, Hall of Famer
• Helen Jacobs (1908-1997) - tennis player, member of International Tennis Hall of Fame
• Robert James (born 1983) - linebacker for the Atlanta Falcons
• Richard Jefferson (born 1980) - small forward for the Dallas Mavericks
• Brian Jennings (born 1976) - long snapper and tight end for the San Francisco 49ers
• Elliot Johnson (born 1984) -utility player for the Cleveland Indians
• Nick Johnson (born 1992) - player for the Houston Rockets
• Levi Jones (born 1979) - offensive tackle for the Washington Redskins
• Cameron Jordan (born 1989) - defensive end for the New Orleans Saints
• Ryan Kalil (born 1985) - center for the Carolina Panthers
• Devon Kennard (born 1991) - linebacker for the New York Giants
• Ian Kinsler (born 1982) - second baseman for the Detroit Tigers
• Paul Konerko (born 1976) - first baseman for the Chicago White Sox
• Kyle Kosier (born 1978) - guard for the Dallas Cowboys
• Frank Kush (born 1925) - head football coach for Arizona State and NFL's Baltimore Colts
• Spencer Larsen (born 1984) - NFL fullback
• Kevin Long (born 1966) - hitting coach for the New York Mets
• Lou Marson (born 1986) - catcher for the Cleveland Indians
• Doug Mathis (born 1983) - relief pitcher for the Texas Rangers
• Billy Mayfair (born 1966) - professional golfer
• Mickey McConnell (born 1989) - player for the Texas Legends
• Phil Mickelson (born 1970) - professional golfer
• Zach Miller (born 1985) - tight end for the Seattle Seahawks
• Brad Mills (born 1985) - relief pitcher for the Toronto Blue Jays
• Bryce Molder (born 1979) - professional golfer
• Arte Moreno (born 1946) - owner of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
• Trent Murphy (born 1990) - linebacker for the Washington Redskins
• Bart Oates (born 1958) - center for the New York Giants and San Francisco 49ers
• Larry Owens (born 1983) - player for the Iowa Energy
• Jim Palmer (born 1945) - starting pitcher for the Baltimore Orioles and Baseball Hall of Famer
• Danica Patrick - auto racing driver competing in the Indy Racing League and NASCAR
• Rodney Peete (born 1966) - USC and NFL quarterback
• Pat Perez (born 1976) - professional golfer
• Scott Pinckney (born 1989) - professional golfer
• Mike Pollak (born 1985) - guard for the Cincinnati Bengals
• Don Pooley (born 1951) - professional golfer
• Ted Purdy (born 1973) - professional golfer
• Brooks Reed (born 1987) - outside linebacker for the Houston Texans
• Chaz Schilens (born 1985) - wide receiver for the Saskatchewan Roughriders
• Curt Schilling (born 1966) - professional baseball pitcher and broadcaster
• Tyler Schmitt (born 1986) - NFL long snapper
• Lyle Sendlein (born 1984) - center for the Arizona Cardinals
• Paul Silas (born 1943) - NBA player and coach
• Shelley Smith (born 1987) - guard for the Houston Texans
• Eric Sogard (born 1986) - second baseman for the Oakland Athletics
• Ken Stabler (1945–2015) – Four-time Pro Bowl NFL quarterback, primarily with the Oakland Raiders
• Kerri Strug (born 1977) - gymnast - 1996 Olympic gold medalist
• Marcus Thomas (born 1984) - NFL running back
• Michael Thompson (born 1985) - professional golfer
• Pat Tillman - college and pro football player killed in Afghanistan
• Tim Toone (born 1985) - wide receiver for the Atlanta Falcons
• Howard Twitty (born 1949) - professional golfer
• Bobby Wade (born 1981) - wide receiver for the Kansas City Chiefs
• Ken Westerfield (born 1947) - disc sports (Frisbee) pioneer
• Markus Wheaton (born 1991) - wide receiver for the Pittsburgh Steelers
• Danny White - professional football player for the Dallas Cowboys
• Tom Wilhelmsen - relief pitcher for the Seattle Mariners
• Dot Wilkinson - Hall of Fame inductee for bowling and softball
• Darren Woodson (born 1969) - professional football player for the Dallas Cowboys

Television and radio

• Rich Buhler (1946–2012) – radio talk show host, evangelical Christian author
• Rachel Campos-Duffy (born 1971) - TV personality, The Real World: San Francisco, The View
• Cheryl Casone (born 1970) - anchor for the Fox Business Network and business correspondent for Fox News
• Joan Ganz Cooney (born 1929) - TV producer of Sesame Street
• John Garcia - National Geographic Channel's DogTown series star, Guinness World Record holder
• Savannah Guthrie (born 1971) - White House correspondent for NBC News, co-host of NBC's Today Show
• Dan Hicks (born 1962) - sportscaster for NBC
• Pat Hughes (born 1955) - play-by-play voice of the Chicago Cubs for WGN radio
• Don Imus (born 1940) - nationally syndicated talk radio host, Imus in the Morning
• Jenni Pulos - Jeff Lewis's assistant on Bravo's Flipping Out

Others

• Roger L. Worsley - educator

Images for kids

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  Rex Allen

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  Lynda Carter

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  Ted Danson

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  Andy Devine

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  Emma Stone

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  Frank Luke

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  Chester Bennington

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  Dierks Bentley

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  Joe Jonas

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  Stevie Nicks

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  Jordin Sparks

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  Apache Kid

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  Geronimo

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  Cody Bellinger

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  Henry Cejudo

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  Curley Culp

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  Sean Elliott

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  Brady Ellison

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  Julie Ertz

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  Todd Heap

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  Cam Jordan

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  Ian Kinsler

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  Jim Palmer

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  Marilyn Ramenofsky

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  Arte Moreno